DODGERS NOTEBOOK: CORA BROTHERS ARE REUNITED IN SEATTLE.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

New Dodgers began arriving Friday and none with a better story than infielder Alex Cora.

Cora's contract was purchased Thursday after Todd Hollandsworth was placed on the 60-day disabled list with torn cartilage in his left shoulder. He thought when he was scratched for the second consecutive game at Triple-A Albuquerque that he was in trouble. Instead, he was joining the Dodgers in the city where his brother Joey plays second base.

``This is the greatest day of my life,'' Joey Cora said. ``Seeing him here is better than the playoff games or the All-Star games. I've been smiling all day. I cried last night with joy. Since we are 11 years apart, I never thought we would ever play in the big leagues at the same time.''

Alex Cora, 22, was batting .232 in 51 games as Albuquerque's shortstop. When he got word he was headed to the big leagues he called Puerto Rico for his mother, Iris, who then got a call from Joey.

``I was pretty down when I got home last night because we lost,'' Joey Cora said. ``But this news turned everything around.''

At first, Alex's flight to Seattle from Albuquerque was canceled, then he was re-routed through Phoenix, arriving here at 4 a.m.

``I spoke to him last night and he was so excited,'' Alex said of Joey. ``I think he was more excited than me. This is great. I got to know a lot of these guys the last two spring trainings, and they were all great when I got here.''

Mlicki arrives: First things first. Dave Mlicki is not Bob Milacki or Mike Bielecki, although the three were part of the same pitching staff for the Cleveland Indians in 1993.

But Mlicki, acquired by the Dodgers on Thursday from the New York Mets in the Hideo Nomo deal, is the Dodgers' starting pitcher today in a nationally televised game against the Seattle Mariners.

Mlicki, who turns 30 on Monday, arrived here at 3 p.m. from Boston, where the Mets were opening an interleague series against the Red Sox.

``I had heard my name mentioned a lot, but I had heard it last year, too,'' Mlicki said. ``Until it happens, you never are really prepared for it.''

Mlicki, who says he is constantly called Bob Milacki, now in the Houston farm system, also had the reputation of having the best arm in the Mets' organization. That, however, did not translate into much success. He was 8-12 last year, but he did lead the Mets with 32 starts and 157 strikeouts. This season he was 1-4 with a 5.68 ERA in 10 starts.

``The Mets had so many rainouts this year that I was going seven or eight days between starts,'' Mlicki said. ``It was very hard to get any rhythm.''

Claire comment: Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire said Friday that former club owner Peter O'Malley did not sway him into sending Nomo to the Mets. He also said Nomo's agent, Don Nomura, was not seeking a contract extension when the two met during spring training.

``Peter O'Malley had nothing to do with the trade, and he has not tried to influence me on player moves at any time during the 12 years that I have had this job,'' Claire said.

DODGERS vs. SEATTLE

Time: 1:05 p.m. at Kingdome.

TV/Radio: Ch. 11; 1150-AM, KWKW 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: Dave Mlicki (1-4, 5.68) makes his Dodgers debut against Mariners left-hander Jeff Fassero (5-2, 3.73).

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Box

BOX: DODGERS vs. SEATTLE (see text)