DODGERS END LOSS STREAK HUNDLEY, SHEFFIELD, HERGES HAVE STARRING ROLES IN ROUTING ROCKIES DODGERS 12, COLORADO 1.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DENVER - The reality is the playoffs are a highly unlikely option for the Dodgers, who know it but cling to hope because anything is possible until they are mathematically eliminated.

And another reality is the last three weeks of the season have a chance to degenerate into an unlivable experience that makes players cross out days on the calendar until the regular season ends.

The only way to keep the end of the season from being insufferable is to win a few games, which is why Sunday's 12-1 pasting of the Colorado Rockies served a higher purpose than just moving the Dodgers ahead of the Rockies and into third place again in the National League West.

``It could get old real quick if you don't win,'' said Dodgers catcher Todd Hundley, who hit his first homer since Aug. 22 and drove in four runs. ``That's what you're trying to do, win, and that takes care of a lot of things, especially keeps your attitude a lot better.''

The win ended the Dodgers' losing streak at five and left the team (74-69) needing four more wins in its final 19 games to surpass last year's miserable win total. But that's a poor consolation for a team with a payroll close to $100 million that was expected to compete for a playoff spot.

Instead, the season has boiled down to individual accomplishments and a few obtainable milestones.

Dodgers All-Star left fielder Gary Sheffield went 3 for 3 and his three RBI gave him 102, the fourth time he's reached the 100-RBI mark. Though it wasn't a pressure-packed situation, reliever Matt Herges pitched shutout ball for the final four innings to earn his first major-league save in relief of winner Darren Dreifort.

Herges even made a bid for his first home run in the top of the ninth, but his drive to center field was caught by Juan Pierre a step in front of the warning track.

``I killed that ball. I'll never hit a home run because I got every bit of that - in Coors Field,'' Herges said. ``It's a nice rebound (to win) after losing five in a row, to bang the ball around like that. We're not giving up, that's for sure.''

Dreifort, heading for free agency and pitching against one of the teams interested in his services, allowed one run on two hits in five wild innings. Dreifort (11-8) won for the first time since Aug. 13 and is 7-1 since the All-Star break, but he walked five in six innings and has walked 10 batters in his past two starts.

``Once we got the big lead five innings was all I was going to let him go,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``He got better as the game went on, but he was all over the place.''

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 6:35 p.m., at BankOne Ballpark

TV/Radio: Channel 5; 1150-AM, 610-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish)

Matchup: With a date yet to be announced for an appeal hearing concerning the six-game suspension handed down before the weekend, Dodgers right-hander Ismael Valdes (2-7, 5.64 ERA) tries again for his first win since returning in late July. Valdes is 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA in nine games with the Dodgers, including eight starts. Arizona counters with right-hander Armando Reynoso (10-10, 5.25). In his only appearance against the Dodgers this season, Reynoso allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings. Tuesday - Dodgers RH Luke Prokopec (0-0 0.00) vs. Diamondbacks RH Curt Schilling (10-11, 3.94); Wednesday - Dodgers RH Kevin Brown (12-6, 2.72) vs. Diamondbacks LH Brian Anderson (10-5, 4.31).

- Brian Dohn

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Box: Dodgers vs. Arizona (see text)