DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ONE JEFF FEELS FOR THE OTHER.

Byline: Matt McHale Daily News Staff Writer

Jeff Shaw didn't see the beating his good friend Jeff Brantley took from the Dodgers in the eighth inning Saturday afternoon.

Shaw, the new Dodgers closer, was warming up in the bullpen when Brantley, his mentor in Cincinnati, allowed four runs, including two homers in the Dodgers' 10-8 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

``I know what he's going through,'' said Shaw, who earned his second save since joining the club at the All-Star break. ``It's tough because this is the guy who taught me everything. He had arm surgery and really hasn't pitched since the end of 1996.

``But last year he could have gone home. Instead, he stuck around just so I could learn what I needed to know.''

In his first three appearances with the Dodgers, Shaw pitched three innings and retired all nine batters. Saturday, he got the first two in the eighth inning until Ray Lankford singled. He also gave up a bloop single to Willie McGee in the ninth but held on for his 25th overall save.

Brantley retired the first batter in the eighth, then fell apart. Gary Sheffield tied the game with a two-run homer and Matt Luke won it with a two-run shot into the Cardinals bullpen. That one nearly got the pitcher booed off the field.

``This is a tough situation for him here because he has to pitch, and when you are coming off arm surgery you aren't always going to be sharp,'' Shaw said of Brantley, now 0-5 with a 6.21 ERA. ``I wish I could tell you all the things he has done for me. He taught me how to set up hitters, how to work both sides of the plate, how to conduct myself and how to think on the field. He was a friend who was always there.''

Shaw laughed at the scoreboard that had him throwing 92 mph in the ninth inning. He is not exactly a finesse pitcher, but he has great control and a difficult delivery for hitters to pick up. ``They had me throwing 97 at the All-Star break,'' he said. ``They should never have put those things up. I just try to get guys out.''

Oh, that Tripp: After nearly a year on the disabled list, Tripp Cromer came off the bench in the fourth inning and hit a home run on the first pitch. That was after leaving Albuquerque at 6 a.m. Saturday morning and arriving an hour before game time.

Cromer is a utility infielder who had 20 RBI and a .582 average with runners in scoring position while filling at short and second for a month last season.

``There were times when I thought this day would never come,'' said Cromer, who underwent reconstructive surgery on his right elbow last September. ``It was a lot of hard work, but it helped us get back in the game today.''

DODGERS vs. ST. LOUIS

Time: 5:05 p.m., Busch Stadium.

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

Matchup: In the season finale between these two clubs, Chan Ho Park (8-5, 4.32) faces right-hander Todd Stottlemyre (9-8, 3.29). Park allowed one run in 6-2/3 innings last Monday in a 2-1 victory against San Francisco. Stottlemyre beat the Dodgers here Opening Day on a grand slam by Mark McGwire. The Dodgers could tie the all-time series record today with a victory. The Cardinals lead 907-906. The Dodgers are 101-100 at Busch Stadium.

- Matt McHale

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Box

PHOTO (1--Ran in Final Edition only) SHAW

(2--Ran in Final Edition only) BRANTLEY

BOX: DODGERS vs. ST. LOUIS (see text)