DODGERS CATCH BREAK IN 10TH PITCHERS RULE EARLY, BUT GOODWIN DELIVERS DODGERS 1, PHILADELPHIA 0.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Even in this pinball era when 25 homers and 100 RBI are more staples of good seasons rather than benchmarks, pitchers prove they still own the game.

Philadelphia lefty Bruce Chen and Dodgers right-hander Kevin Brown had one of those time-warp nights in which pitching dominated. Brown didn't budge for seven innings, Chen for 8 2/3 innings.

Finally, after more than three hours, the Dodgers broke through to Philadelphia's bullpen on Tom Goodwin's two-out, run-scoring single in the 10th inning as the Dodgers beat the Phillies 1-0 Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers (72-64) have won 10 of their past 13 games, including a season-high five straight at home, and can climb a season-best nine games above .500 with a win today.

``Chen was awesome, Brownie was awesome, and this is two big (wins) in a row,'' said Dodgers reliever Matt Herges, who pitched a perfect 10th to record the win and improve to 9-3. ``Wins like this, these types of games with extra innings or whatever, that's incredible for morale. They feel better when you win that way. It's definitely something to take into this last month, momentum-wise.''

Jeff Branson, starting at shortstop for the ill-feeling Alex Cora, started the winning rally with a one-out double to right off reliever Vicente Padilla. Branson moved to third on Dave Hansen's groundout and scored when Goodwin stroked the first pitch he saw from Padilla (3-4) into center field.

It gave the Dodgers their second straight one-run win and marked their first 1-0 shutout win nearly two years. Just how long was it since the Dodgers had one of these? Well, Carlos Perez did it, beating San Francisco on Sept. 28, 1998, in a complete-game effort.

``All I'm worried about is getting the win, it doesn't matter who comes through,'' Goodwin said. ``We have to win just about every game and put the pressure on the guys up top. It doesn't matter who comes through. You don't play the game to be in a situation like that. You play the game to win.''

Obviously, Branson was happy with the double and scoring the game- winning run, but he was also disappointed by his failure to execute in the eighth inning. Todd Hundley led of with a single, but Branson popped out trying to bunt.

Paul LoDuca, pinch-running for Hundley, eventually moved to third on Goodwin's single but was stranded there.

``The ballgame could have been over early if I get the bunt down,'' Branson said. ``They have confidence to put you in there, and I didn't come through. You're in that situation, and I didn't do my job. It's great you score the winning run and hit the double, but the game could have been over with. I'm still ticked off I didn't get the bunt down.''

The Dodgers outlasted a brilliant effort by Chen - he tied a career-high with eight strikeouts and allowed four hits - mostly because staff ace Kevin Brown was equally overwhelming.

Brown pitched seven shutout innings, yielding four hits and striking out nine. But he did battle through some trouble. The Phillies had baserunners in five of the first six innings.

Catcher Mike Lieberthal, a Westlake High product, led off the second with a double and went to third on Travis Lee's groundout to first. Needing a fly ball to score a run, Rob Ducey instead struck out. It was the first of seven consecutive strikeouts recorded by Brown. He got out of the inning by whiffing Marlon Anderson.

The Phillies had another threat in the fourth when Rolen led off with a single and Lieberthal was hit with a pitch. However, Lee and Ducey struck out and Anderson tapped harmlessly back to the mound to end the inning.

``(Chen) threw a lot of strikes, and he threw a lot of offspeed stuff,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``He had a really good change-up. He got a lot of easy outs with his change-up. He's a promising young pitcher.''

DODGERS VS. PHILADELPHIA

Time: 5:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium.

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Dodgers right-hander Chan Ho Park (14-8, 3.60 ERA) can tie hiscareer-high for wins in a season if he can beat the Phillies. Park's pitched better than anyone on staff since the all-star break. He's coming off a career-high 14 strikeouts in a win against the Brewers. Park is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA with 31 strikeouts in his last three starts. He's 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 11 career outings against the Phillies. Philadelphia Right-hander Robert Person (7-4, 3.19) has won his last two decisions and has a 1.38 ERA in his last four starts.

-- Brian Doh

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo: (1) SNIDER

(2) SHEFFIELD

Box: (1) CHASING DUKE

(2) DODGERS vs. PHILADELPHIA (See text)