DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ISHII SHARP VS. BRAVES, MADE THEM `LOOK SILLY'.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - The Dodgers and contract bargains go together like Enron and stock tips, but the Dodgers could crush the correlation if left- hander Kazuhisa Ishii pitches like he did in his spring debut Friday.

After mapping out a deliberate and calculated plan to get Ishii ready to face major-league competition, the heralded Japanese pitcher was overwhelming. Under the watchful eye of curious teammates and confident front-office personnel, Ishii allowed one hit and struck out four Atlanta Braves in two innings of a 5-1 Dodgers victory.

``I mainly wanted him to begin to feel like he could compete in major- league baseball and that he belonged in major-league baseball and he sure ought to have seen that today,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn said. ``I'm glad he pitched against some of their better hitters. He made them look silly.''

Tops on the list was Braves right fielder B.J. Surhoff, whose knees buckled on an Ishii slider with one strike. The first seven pitches Ishii threw were strikes, as were 21 of his 30 pitches. He also didn't use his whole arsenal. Ishii threw 93- to 95-mph fastballs, forkballs and sliders but stayed away from his curveball.

He struck out Rafael Furcal, Javy Lopez, Wes Helms and Ozzie Timmons. Julio Franco had the Braves' hit.

``It's the first time I've seen him and he threw harder than I thought he'd throw,'' Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros said. ``He looked pretty good. Looked like he had some life on the fastball, good slider, a little splitter, too.''

In two innings, Ishii demonstrated why the Dodgers paid the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League $11.26 million, then guaranteed Ishii another $12.3 million. And he showed why the Dodgers believe he can be their No. 2 or No. 3 starter this season.

``All of the exhibition games I will pitch in, it's more of a chance to examine how it is facing major-league hitters, and the whole goal is to be ready by opening day,'' Ishii said through interpreter Scott Akasaki. ``In terms of American batters, I understand their power. American batters have a lot more power, and power is the No. 1 thing.''

Ishii is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday against Montreal. The Dodgers meticulously plotted Ishii's course through the spring so he would appear in five or six exhibition games, but manager Jim Tracy acknowledged the club will keep a close watch during the season because Ishii likely is to pitch more this year than at any point of his career.

--Gagne turns heads: Armed with a more consistent curveball and better control, right-hander Eric Gagne is setting a high standard in the competition for the fifth starter's spot.

Gagne's third outing of the spring was his most impressive, allowing one hit and striking out two. The sometimes-wild Gagne didn't walk a batter, and his fastball was consistently 93 to 94 mph.

``I saw Gagne starting to become a pitcher, not a thrower but a pitcher,'' Colborn said. ``I'm very impressed with him. He kept his pitches low. After one strike, if he wanted to throw a breaking ball - and in that situation a breaking ball must be a teaser in the zone and then out - and he was able to do that a couple of times. These are things pitchers do, not young throwers like he was until last year.''

In eight spring innings Gagne has allowed two hits and a walk, making for an interesting competition with left-handers Omar Daal and Odalis Perez.

--Izzy the starter? Tracy said Cesar Izturis would make the opening-day roster only if he proved he could play every day, and so far the talented shortstop is living up to his hype.

His ability was on display in the fourth inning against the Braves. Izturis, who played second base, backhanded a ball near the bag and flipped it from his glove to shortstop Alex Cora, who threw out Surhoff by a step at first base. He also had three hits and is batting .364.

``He hasn't done anything to convince me he can't play up here,'' Tracy said.

--Odds and ends: Shawn Green started his first game in the field, went 0 for 2 and didn't get any balls hit to him in four innings. ``I saw three pitches, swung at two,'' said Green, whose work was limited in the early part of camp because of shoulder tendinitis. ... Tom Goodwin, who strained an oblique muscle Wednesday, should begin hitting today and could be back into the center-field mix by next week.

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL

Time: 4:05 p.m., Roger Dean Stadium.

Radio: 1150-AM, 1330-AM (Spanish).

Matchup: The first night game of the spring will have Dodgers LH Odalis Perez trying to build on his strong start. RH Britt Reames will start for the Expos.

Friday's result: Cesar Izturis had three hits, including a homer, and Adrian Beltre also homered as the Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 at Holman Stadium. Gary Sheffield, traded from the Dodgers to Atlanta in January, decided not to play and didn't make the trip. Kazuhisa Ishii pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut and Eric Gagne threw three scoreless innings.

- Brian Dohn

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Kazuhisa Ishii gave up one hit and struck out four in two innings as the Dodgers defeated Atlanta 5-1 on Friday in Vero Beach.

M. Spencer Green/Associated Press

Box:

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL (see text)