DODGERS DOWN FALLEN ANGELS STREAKING L.A. USES POWER TO MOVE BACK INTO TIE FOR FIRST DODGERS 5, ANGELS 2.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

It seems the Dodgers and Angels are on a proverbial crosstown see-saw, with one team destined to fall down the standings with the rise of the other.

The Angels had their spotlight moment last October with their first World Series championship, but mediocrity has followed, while the Dodgers have pitched their way to respectability, and the top of the National League West this spring.

Friday night, the teams met for the first time this season, and the disparity was clear to see. The Dodgers got another sparkling effort from Hideo Nomo, and their maligned offense battered maligned Angels starter Jarrod Washburn for a 5-2 victory in front of 54,573 at Dodger Stadium.

At least for one night, the Dodgers couldn't ask for much more. Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his 28th save, and the Dodgers' victory, coupled with the San Francisco Giants' loss to Oakland, created a tie for first place in the division and moved them 3 1/2 games ahead of the Montreal Expos in the wild-card race.

The Dodgers won by unconventional means. They had not hit more than two home runs in a game this season, but Ron Coomer, Shawn Green, Brian Jordan and David Ross each hit one out against the homer-prone Washburn (6-8).

Green's efforts bring hope that he might be shaking free of a season-long slumber that has worsened recently, as he entered Friday's game hitting .136 in June. Green hit Washburn's first pitch in the fourth inning over the fence in left-center, and he also singled in the sixth to chase Washburn.

The Dodgers' offense, moribund for much of the season, has scored at least four runs in three of the last six games, nothing short of an outburst for this group.

And while Green and Jordan came through with big hits, the Dodgers got some needed support from Coomer, in the lineup at first base because of Fred McGriff's strained groin, and Ross, who started because manager Jim Tracy wanted to give Paul Lo Duca a break from catching.

The Dodgers' 41 home runs entering the game were by far the fewest in the majors, so Friday's power burst came as a surprise, as opposed to the solid effort from Nomo, which is now nothing less than expected every five days.

Nomo didn't dominate, or look as impressive as his last two outings, but made few mistakes and improved his record to a deceptive 8-6. Nomo allowed the two runs (one earned) on seven hits, struck out six and walked two in 7 1/3 innings. It was the sixth time in his last seven starts Nomo allowed two or fewer earned runs.

He didn't help himself in the first inning, when his throwing error allowed Tim Salmon to reach second with two outs. Two batters later, Troy Glaus singled home Salmon. The Angels' other run came in the fourth, when Garret Anderson led off with a line-drive blast to right field.

Nomo stranded runners on first and third in the sixth and left after Anderson's one-out double in the seventh, having thrown 114 pitches. Paul Shuey recorded the last two outs of the eighth and gave way to Gagne, who hit Adam Kennedy but then got three consecutive outs.

For once, Nomo could enjoy a lead. Four times this season, Nomo had allowed fewer than four runs in a start and lost, but the Dodgers' offense came through Friday.

The Dodgers found an easy victim in Washburn, who had allowed 14 home runs this season entering the game. Coomer's homer with one out in the second tied the game 1-1, and Green's blast in the fourth evened the game 2-2.

The winning margin came in the fifth. With one out, Ross smoked a line drive over the short fence in left field, and with two outs, Cesar Izturis doubled into the left-center gap. Lo Duca, who had his 25-game hitting streak snapped Thursday night, singled to left to score Izturis.

Jordan led off the sixth with a home run to left-center. Washburn lasted five-plus innings and allowed the five runs on eight hits, walked none and struck out two.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, 2 boxes

Photo:

(1 -- color) Dodgers shortstop Cesar Izturis is safe at home in the fifth inning of the Dodgers 5-2 victory Friday over the Angels.

(2) Dodgers starting pitcher Hideo Nomo turned in another strong performance in a 5-2 victory Friday over the Angels.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) DODGERS STATISTICS

(2) ANGELS STATISTICS