DODGERS INSIDE LOOK: ALVAREZ AGAIN BECOMES STOPPER.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

On the top pitching staff in baseball, no one has had a bigger impact down the stretch than Wilson Alvarez.

For the seventh time in eight starts since moving into the Dodgers' rotation, Alvarez was dominant Friday night, limiting the San Diego Padres to four hits in a 6-0 victory, his first shutout in more than six years.

Not only did he win for the the fifth time in six decisions, Wilson has three victories after Dodgers losses. He isn't just helping to keep the Dodgers in the race, he is making a strong bid for a spot in next year's rotation.

``I don't remember the last time I pitched like this,'' Alvarez said after the game. ``So many people have helped me get to this point. It is a tremendous feeling.''

On Friday, the club was coming off two painful defeats in Arizona and had fallen 3 1/2 games behind National League wild-card-leading Florida with 17 to play. Although the Marlins won Friday, Philadelphia lost, putting the Dodgers just two games out of second.

During one stretch, Alvarez allowed just one earned run in 20 innings over three starts. Since a no-decision in Houston on Aug. 28, Alvarez has allowed two earned runs in 21 innings.

Take out that start against the Astros and Alvarez has given up three earned runs in 39 innings since joining the rotation. His ERA the past month is 1.32, the best in the majors.

``He's been such a huge contributor to this club since his arrival,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``Wilson Alvarez, here as of late, has thrown the ball as well as any of our starting pitchers, and that's not to take anything away from them.''

What continues to make this story so remarkable is that Alvarez is back after missing almost three seasons due to a series of shoulder operations.

Once the ace of the Chicago White Sox staff that won a division title in the early 1990s, Alvarez's career appeared over after the 1999 season.

Even last year, when he was pitching for Tampa Bay, the Dodgers faced a tired left-hander struggling with his rehabilitation and thinking about retirement.

``Back in December, I was basically done,'' Alvarez said. ``But something inside of me told me, `You can't, you can't quit like that.' I said, `You have to do something good for the game before you get out.' ''

Dodgers general manager Dan Evans was an assistant GM for the White Sox during Alvarez's peak and knew he was worth the risk of a minor-league contract. Alvarez did not make the team out of spring training but was recalled after starting the season 5-1 at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Even with the brilliant debut by Double-A phenom Edwin Jackson on Tuesday, Alvarez has made an impressive bid to stay in the rotation next season.

Andy Ashby, whose spot he took in July, will not be back. The future of Darren Dreifort, out almost the entire season, is uncertain.

The rest - Kevin Brown, Hideo Nomo, Odalis Perez and Kazuhisa Ishii - will return.

Alvarez has said he doesn't mind the idea of long relief and spot starting, but there might be more in store.

``He may not throw as hard as he once did,'' Evans said. ``But there is never any doubting what kind of heart he has.''

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Wilson Alvarez, second from right, is congratulated after his four-hit shutout against San Diego.

Chris Urso/Associated Press