DODGERS NOTEBOOK: HALF IS ALL THAT IS LOST.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

PHOENIX -- The Dodgers knew when they left Los Angeles 11 days ago that the perilous, nine-game intradivision journey that awaited them might not be healthy for their position in the standings.

But given that they went 4-5, suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of their closest pursuers and managed to let two teams that seemingly had given up on themselves back in the race, it seemed preposterous that the Dodgers flew home Sunday night with all of a half-game having been shaved from their lead since the day they departed.

Welcome to the National League West, where the preposterous is the rule.

``We came out of it pretty good, because we won two of three here and two out of three in San Francisco,'' Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal said, just after the club completed the trip with a 6-3 win over Arizona and moved two games ahead of San Diego. ``We feel good.''

And while the Dodgers still aren't halfway through a dangerous stretch in which they are playing 19 of 25 on the road, those six home games begin tonight, with the first of three against the suddenly reeling Cincinnati Reds and three more to follow against Colorado.

For the season, the Dodgers are a combined 13-3 against those two clubs.

``We're very, very pleased with the way things turned out in this series,'' Dodgers manager Grady Little said. ``We're going to be going home, and we're looking forward to it. There were a couple of games earlier this season that were similar to Friday night's (15-inning loss to the Diamondbacks) that we didn't have success bouncing back from. So the way we bounced back from this one, I think it shows the kind of players we have right now.''

The Dodgers lost a 14-inning game at Houston on April 26 and then lost six of their next eight. They dropped a 17-inning marathon at Oakland on June 17, then lost their next three.

Lowe risk: Right-hander Derek Lowe said he felt increased soreness in his bruised left thumb -- which is normal on the day after an injury -- but for now plans to make his next scheduled start Friday against the Rockies.

``Since it's not my pitching hand, I think we can probably put some kind of padding on it to ease the catching of the ball,'' said Lowe, who was hit by a comebacker Saturday night. ``I can't see not making that start unless it doesn't get any better in the next fivedays.''

Lowe said he also plans to throw his scheduled side session today and that he has recruited 329-game winner and sure-bet Hall of Famer Greg Maddux to catch the return throws for him.

``He said he would, but we haven't done it yet, so we'll see,'' Lowe said.

Triple his pleasure: Furcal's two-run triple in the fifth inning, which put the Dodgers ahead to stay, was the club's major league-leading 45th of the season.

The Dodgers had just 21 triples last year.

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Photo:

Wilson Betemit, top, gets congratulated by Andre Ethier (16) and Russell Martin after hitting a home run.

Tom Hood/Associated Press