DODGERS BATS GO FLAT IN LOSS TO BREWERS : MILWAUKEE 2 DODGERS 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Each time he stood at the plate Thursday afternoon, Raul Mondesi agonized over his lousy April. He worried about the Dodgers' wimpy road trip. And he thought about his new $36 million contract and wondered what people must be thinking.

It was not exactly the frame of mind he needed to help the Dodgers, who ended their eight-game trip with a 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in front of 12,389 at County Stadium.

Mondesi was so frustrated after his second-inning drive to left off Mercedes died at the warning track that he later slammed his batting helmet and scattered equipment in the dugout.

``You could see after that at-bat just how down he was,'' hitting instructor Reggie Smith said. ``He really thought it was out and it seemed to take something out of him.''

The same was true of the Dodgers, who finished with a 3-5 trip. Even though Hideo Nomo (1-3) pitched a complete game five days after the worst start of his career, it was lost behind the Dodgers' sputtering offense. So was the seventh-inning, game-winning home run by Brewers' center fielder Marquis Grissom, one of just three hits against Nomo.

The Dodgers, who open a five-game homestand tonight against Chicago, have scored 77 runs. Only Montreal and Pittsburgh have less. In the first 20 games, the club has scored three runs or less nine times. They are 1-8 in those games. It is no coincidence the Dodgers (9-11) already trail San Diego by seven games in the National League West.

Unlike Wednesday night, when they won 9-6 after trailing 6-0, the Dodgers had no fire against Mercedes, who allowed six hits in seven innings. Mike Piazza, 6 for 12 with three homers and five RBI in the series, had two hits and scored the Dodgers' only run.

In the sixth, Mondesi had a two-out single and took third on a base hit by Matt Luke. But slumping rookie Paul Konerko flied to center to end the inning. Konerko finished the trip with five hits in 27 at-bats (.185) and still does not have an extra-base hit this season.

The lack of productivity against Mercedes (2-0), who has been bothered by shoulder trouble throughout his career, magnified each Dodgers mistake.

Todd Hollandsworth tried to steal second with runners at first and third and no outs in the third inning of a 1-1 game. He was thrown out and the team seemed to die right there. Todd Zeile, who has cooled at the plate since his 10-game hitting streak ended in Chicago, popped to third. Piazza was intentionally walked and Mondesi grounded to short to end the inning.

The Dodgers were too anxious to get home to point any fingers at Hollandsworth, who clearly ruined the inning. He explained it away by saying Mercedes was a breaking ball pitcher with a slow delivery.

``If I make it everybody is saying what a great play it was,'' Hollandsworth said. ``My aggressiveness is what got me here and I'm not going to lose it.''

In Mondesi's mind the loss wasn't about Hollandsworth's blunder. He feels responsible for a team that should be playing better.

With 30 homers and 32 steals last year, he was supposed to have Piazza's back covered in the lineup.

Last winter he signed a four-year, $36 million that could balloon to $60 million if the club picks up two option years. He had an outstanding spring, batting .326 with two homers and 14 RBI. He played all but one game and enjoyed the increased responsibility his new contract demanded.

There have been glimpses of greatness this season. He hit a game-winning, two-run homer in the 10th inning of a 7-6 victory against Houston on April 10. But a more lasting image was his .179 average during the trip with no homers or RBI.

``This is very hard on him,'' Smith said. ``He feels he is letting everyone down. We talk to him and try to keep things positive. But he wants people to know that this isn't about the money. He is trying as hard as ever.''

Mondesi and Smith already have spent hours talking about hitting and off-field distractions. Smith tried to get Mondesi to hit the ball up the middle and he responded with two singles to center in Tuesday's loss. ``It's not something I can't get out of without hard work,'' Mondesi said. ``I was once hitting about .210 at the All-Star break and came back to have a pretty good year. I have to be patient, but that is hard. I really thought that ball was out.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--Color) Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo threw a complete game five days after his career worst outing.

Morry Gash/Associated Press

(2) HIDEO NOMO

The Dodgers pitcher threw a three-hitter, striking out six and walking two