DODGERS NOTEBOOK: BROWN GETS START OVER ASHBY.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO - One-time staff ace Kevin Brown is back in the Dodgers rotation after a blister-turned-infection in the middle finger on Andy Ashby's pitching hand knocked him out of today's start.

Brown, who made seven relief appearances since being activated Aug. 15, will make his first start since May 26 at Pac Bell Park against the Giants, an organization he's dominated throughout his career.

The Dodgers have been hesitant to put Brown back in the starting rotation as he recovers from elbow surgery last September and back surgery June 11. He was 2-3 with a 4.06 ERA in nine starts before returning and pitching out of the bullpen. He was 1-0 with a 5.65 ERA as a reliever, but didn't allow a run in his last three outings.

Brown, who could throw as many as 90 pitches, had a routine follow-up exam with back specialist Dr. Richard Watkins on Monday and was given clearance to start.

``Expectations are not what you would normally expect from Kevin Brown because of his ailments and because he hasn't really been in the rotation, but he should compete and that's what we want,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``We want him to get experience and it's a building block for the rest of the work he's going to do in September.''

Brown was roughed up for seven earned runs in an opening-day loss, but he was overwhelming in his career against the Giants. Brown is 8-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 13 career games against San Francisco.

``You're not scared of nobody. You just don't race to to get to certain people, but you're not scared of anybody,'' Giants manager Dusty Baker said. ``It's like, `OK, man, I'm not scared of Shaquille O'Neal, but if he's not playing, then it doesn't matter.' ''

With left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii likely out for the season after getting hit in the head with a line drive and undergoing surgery, Tracy said Brown also would start during next week's four-game series against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Ashby won't pitch again until Sunday, leaving the Dodgers scrambling for a pitcher in Friday's game in Colorado. Among their choices are right-handers Kevin Beirne and Rob Ellis and left-hander Victor Alvarez, but Dodgers manager Jim Tracy could piece together a game using relievers.

Ashby pitched with a blister much of the season, but it began irritating him the past few weeks. Pitching coach Jim Colborn said the injury became infected after a Sept. 4 start at Arizona.

--Scheduling nightmare: When San Francisco's game at Atlanta was rained out Aug. 15, it created a headache for the Giants. The teams will play an Sept. 30 make-up, if the game means something. It also means the Giants would travel to Atlanta for one game, and if they are tied for the wild card after that they must travel back to the West Coast for a playoff game, most likely against the Dodgers. The winner of that game would then turn around and travel to Atlanta for the first round of the playoffs.

--Odds and ends: The Dodgers recalled first-base prospect Chin-Feng Chen, who had 26 homers and 84 RBI in his first season with Triple-A Las Vegas. He is the first Taiwanese players to reach the major leagues. The Dodgers also recalled outfielder Luke Allen and left-handed pitcher Victor Alvarez, and purchased the contract of Ellis. Each played at Las Vegas

DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO

Time: 7:15 p.m., Pac Bell Park

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The Dodgers altered their rotation and RH Kevin Brown (3-3, 4.45 ERA) moves back into the rotation to make his first start since he left a May 26 start in Arizona with an elbow problem. He takes the place of RH Andy Ashby and pitches against a team he's had tremendous success against. Brown allowed seven earned runs in an opening-day loss to the Giants, but was 8-1 with a 1.86 ERA in 12 previous games against them. Giants RH Jason Schmidt (10-7, 3.58) allowed one earned run on four hits in seven innings in defeating the Dodgers on July 28.

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. SAN FRANCISCO (see text)