DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BAFFLED BELTRE BACK TO BENCH.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

DENVER - When Dodgers third baseman Adrian Beltre hit a two-run first-inning homer off Arizona's Brian Anderson on Sept 3, he was one of the hottest hitters in baseball.

Since then, Beltre is batting .029. He's returned to swinging at poor pitches, stopped hitting the ball to the opposite field and length is back in his swing.

It all adds up to a dismal 1-for-34 stretch since the homer. His average dropped from .274 to .258, and finally manager Jim Tracy saw enough. Beltre was benched Friday against Colorado at Coors Field.

``Sometimes he tries to do too much, tries to do a little more than he can, than the other team, the pitcher, gives him the opportunity to do, and you've got to take what they give you,'' Dodgers batting coach Jack Clark said. ``To his credit, he takes a shot at it. He takes two shots at it. Sometimes, three, ya' know? And I mean that in a good way. But we've talked about it. We'd like to see him not chase balls in the dirt. He's still young, and when he's good, he's awful damn good.''

Not even success against Rockies starter Jason Jennings was enough to keep Beltre in the lineup another night, though he entered in the sixth inning in a double switch. Beltre is 5 for 10 against Jennings, but Tyler Houston, hitless in three at-bats, got the start.

``I think sometimes in a case like this you have to intervene and kind of, whether they want to take it or not, offer some suggestions as far as direction,'' Tracy said. ``He's been struggling pretty badly offensively, and I think this is one of those cases where you have to step in and let him step away from the action. It's important that takes place.''

Beltre, who was 10 for 23 with three homers and nine RBI before the slump, hasn't driven in a run since the homer.

``In the cage, it's unbelievable the different kinds of swings and bat controls he (displays),'' Clark said. ``The one that he kind of fools around with is the good one. But he can't take it out there, you know what I mean? He goes out there, and he takes that big swing. And you've seen it for years. But that nice, short, little swing, nobody's quicker and faster than him.''

--Ishii released from hospital: An MRI of Kazuhisa Ishii's skull came up negative, and the left-hander was released from Cedars-Sinai Hospital at 11 a.m. He is out for the season, but the club is hopeful he will be at Dodger Stadium when the team begins a four-game homestand Monday against San Francisco.

Ishii suffered a fracture skull and had a titanium plate inserted in his head after getting hit with a line drive Sunday on the pitcher's mound.

``He's on a way to a complete recovery, and as a group we're just happy this worked out the way it did,'' Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. ``A week ago, we really didn't know how this thing was going to turn out. He might not have the perfect hairline in the world, but he's fine.''

--Odds and ends: Right-hander Andy Ashby threw about 55 pitches in a bullpen session and reported no problems with the infection/blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. He remains on target to make his Sunday start. ... The fluid-filled bumps on Mark Grudzielanek's hand haven't returned since a second draining two months ago, and it appears he won't need surgery to correct the matter after the season. ... Today's game will not be televised. Because of Ch. 11's game of the week, the Dodgers cannot televise games at a competing time. Ch. 11 will show the Angels' games against Texas, leaving radio the only option for the Dodgers' game. Vin Scully will jump to the radio booth and broadcast the first three and final three innings. ... Dodgers officials said plenty of tickets remain for the four-game series with the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

DODGERS vs. COLORADO

Time: 12:05 p.m., Coors Field.

TV/Radio: No TV; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dodgers LH Odalis Perez (13-9, 3.05 ERA) seems to one of the few who can pitch well in Denver. He threw a complete game in his first outing there, and he allowed four runs in six innings in his last appearance. He is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against the Rockies, including a one-hitter June 25 in L.A. Control is Perez's key. In 200 1/3 innings, he's allowed 164 hits and walked 36, with 137 strikeouts. Rockies RH Victor Santos (0-3, 8.27 ERA) makes his first start of the season after 18 relief appearances. Santos has walked 17 in 16 1/3 innings and hasn't started since last season, when he was 2-2 with a 5.50 ERA as a starter with Detroit.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. COLORADO (see text)