DODGERS LOOKING AT BOTTOM LINE : GETTING WIN THAT HELPS KEEP PACE WITH PADRES ALL THAT MATTERS DODGERS 7, PHILADELPHIA 6.

Byline: Tim Brown Daily News Staff Writer

The Dodgers preferred to think of this victory in the bowels of the National League East as gritty, as hard-fought, that kind of thing.

So let them.

They like to think they draw the savage out of every ballclub, they being the almighty Dodgers and all.

OK.

At this point, nobody's asking how. They're asking how many.

The Dodgers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 in 12 innings Friday night at Veterans Stadium, where gritty was defined as leaving runners at third base with less than two out, blown four-run leads and being fortunate enough to have the other ballclub twice fail to execute sacrifice bunts.

In the end, Chad Curtis drew a leadoff walk against reliever Jeff Parrett and Delino DeShields tripled him home with none out in the 12th inning. In the spirit of the occasion, DeShields was standing at third base when the inning ended, but the Dodgers had their run, closer Todd Worrell had his career-high 37th save and Darren Dreifort had his first major-league victory.

``We know what we gotta do,'' said DeShields, who drove in his first run in three weeks. ``We either play or we go home. Those guys aren't letting up, so we gotta play ball.''

The San Diego Padres, said guys, won as well, their sixth in a row. They lead the National League West by two games over the Dodgers, who have won seven of eight. The Dodgers lead the wild-card standings by 1-1/2 games over the Montreal Expos.

Antonio Osuna, Scott Radinsky, Dreifort and Worrell scattered four hits over the final 4-1/3 innings, enough time for the offense to push one more run across. Dreifort's victory came 2-1/2 years after he broke into the big leagues, though it was delayed by reconstructive elbow surgery.

``It felt like it was a long time coming,'' said Dreifort (1-1).

He meant career-wise, though he could just as well been referring to the club's 13th extra-inning game.

They arrived at a 6-6 score through a sometimes puzzling array of untidy baseball. Gritty. Make that gritty baseball.

Just as two nights before they blew a five-run lead in a loss in Montreal, the Dodgers had a 6-2 lead in the sixth inning that was gone by the seventh.

It was bad pitching, primarily.

Moments after the Dodgers scored five runs in the sixth, starter Tom Candiotti walked the first Phillies batter, Mickey Morandini, in the bottom of the inning. He scored to bring the Phillies to within 6-3.

The Phillies scored three times in the seventh against reliever Mark Guthrie, whose brilliant first four months have given way to a spotty stretch run. In fact, through Guthrie's appearance, the bullpen allowed 38 runs in its last 52 innings. He allowed four hits and three runs in one inning. Gregg Jefferies' two-out single scored the Phillies' sixth run.

``What you're seeing is what goes on a lot - we're battling for a pennant and the other teams aren't giving an inch,'' manager Bill Russell said.

He did admit that ``A 6-2 lead is supposed to be enough,'' but added with a shrug, ``Hey, whatever it takes this time of year.''

Eric Karros drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, and the Phillies came back with two in the fourth. Dodgers left fielder Billy Ashley, in his 32nd start of the season, misjudged a fly ball into a double that led to both Phillies runs.

That's when the Dodgers finally reached Phillies starter Matt Beech, in the sixth inning, their third time through the order. Mike Piazza, who had three hits, and Raul Mondesi drove in runs with singles. With two out, Ashley hit a three-run home run, his seventh, for that 6-2 lead that wouldn't last.

In the ninth and the 11th innings, Phillies hitters attempted but could not sacrifice runners into scoring position. In the latter occasion, with runners at first and second and none out, Morandini bunted back to Dreifort, who threw to third base for the force play. Ruben Amaro then grounded into an inning-ending double play.

``You're looking for a break,'' Russell said. ``Darren made a great play and got a double play.''

The game was the first of 12 in a row against teams that are a combined 67 games under .500. The Dodgers follow this with series against the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds.

``That's what Billy keeps preaching,'' DeShields said. ``Those are games we have to win. He reminds us every day.''

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Billy Ashley, right, is congratulatedby Mike Piazza after hitting a three-run home run against the Phillies in the sixth inning.

(2) Phillies Ricky Otero, with runners in scoring position, pops up trying to bunt in the ninth inning.

Associated Press