DODGERS NOTEBOOK: FAST-STARTING ISHII LOOKS FOR WAYS TO START FASTER.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Dodgers lefty Kazuhisa Ishii is 8-1 with a 2.90 ERA and might be en route to becoming the Dodgers' first Rookie of the Year since Todd Hollandsworth in 1996.

However, pitching coach Jim Colborn isn't satisfied with a certain aspect of Ishii's game and it is something the two continue to work on.

Ishii has had difficulty in the early innings before rebounding and pitching into the six or seventh inning. In his 10 starts, Ishii's ERA in the first three innings is 5.10. After that, it's 0.84.

``He just has trouble finding his rhythm,'' Colborn said. ``It could be that he's training and migrating little by little to the American way, and that could be one factor. He's got to find his rhythm with the period of throwing we do. Maybe that hasn't happened yet. I'm still patient with it.''

Of the 20 earned runs Ishii allowed, 17 came in the first three innings. He has allowed just one earned run after the fifth inning.

And though Ishii figures to struggle with location early, he usually corrects it to the point where he is nearly unhittable. Opponents are batting .306 against him in the first inning, but .214 afterward.

Earlier in the season, Ishii would abandon the windup and pitch from the stretch with no runners on base in an effort to find his rhythm. An injury to Ishii's right hip caused him to pitch exclusively out of the stretch his last two starts, but Colborn said Ishii might go back to the windup when he starts Sunday against Arizona.

``We're just paying attention to the normal things, which is pay attention to his delivery, look at films and make him throw on a continual basis,'' Colborn said. ``I'll continue a dialogue with him that will help him be consistent.''

But there is an effect. Ishii's propensity to throw a high number of pitches caused manager Jim Tracy, along with Colborn, to re-align the Dodgers starting rotation. Countryman Hideo Nomo also lacks pitch efficiency, so the Dodgers split the two in the rotation so the bullpen is not taxed.

``Later on (in the game), his breaking ball is a lot sharper,'' Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca said. ``I think he's just getting into the feel of everything, finding his spots. I don't think it's anything different. I just think it takes him awhile and he gets better as the game goes on. I can't explain it. I don't know what it is, but he does pitch better as the game goes on. Maybe it's a feel for the mound.''

--Backup to bobblehead: Two years ago, Lo Duca asked to be traded because he was a backup catcher at the Triple-A level. Tonight, a sold-out crowd will pack Dodger Stadium on Paul Lo Duca bobblehead doll night.

Lo Duca, the popular catcher who became a fan favorite last season with his always-hustling style and perseverance, said 20 to 25 friends and family will be at the game. ``I guess the best way to explain it was my 5-year-old nephew (Alex) said uncle Pauley's a toy,'' Lo Duca said. ``I was like, 'Wow.' You don't realize it, but that's pretty cool. It's pretty awesome, considering where I was. If you would have told me two years ago that I'd have a bobblehead doll, I would have laughed in your face.''

--Signing issue: The Dodgers signed Jonathan Corporan to a $930,000 contract as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic, but his application for visa was denied because of an age discrepancy, and the contract could be voided or reworked. The Dodgers signed him believing Corporan was 16 (he turned 17 in April), but he could be two years older. The issue should be cleared up within two weeks.

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

Time: 7:10 p.m., Dodger Stadium.

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

Matchup: Dodgers LH Omar Daal (4-0, 0.88 ERA) has been sensational as a reliever but even better in his two starts. Daal gets his third in place of the injured Kevin Brown as the Dodgers open a three-game series with the Diamondbacks. Daal is 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts but hasn't started since April 24 and pitch count could be an issue. However, Daal threw 71 pitches in relief of Brown on Sunday and could go five or six innings. Arizona LH Randy Johnson (8-1, 2.73) gets another shot at the Dodgers, who scored seven runs on eight hits in five innings against him Sunday. Saturday - Dodgers RH Andy Ashby (4-4, 3.21) vs. Diamondbacks LH Brian Anderson (0-4, 5.44); Sunday - Dodgers LH Kazuhisa Ishii (8-1, 2.90) vs. RH Miguel Batista (2-2, 5.28).

- Brian Dohn

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DODGERS vs. ARIZONA (see text)