DODGERS NOTEBOOK: RELAXED PARK HAS RIGHT STUFF.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Dodgers did, after all, have something at stake in Colorado. They could have fallen into last place for the first time in six weeks.

However, they'll return home entrenched in fourth place and at least a half-game ahead of the Rockies in the NL West after hanging on for a 5-4 win Saturday afternoon at Coors Field.

Though the good news on the Dodgers' front has been sparse to nonexistent, Chan Ho Park's performance in the homer-happy altitude was enough to make some people smile. Park (11-10) won his fifth straight decision after allowing one run in six innings. Jeff Shaw struck out Kurt Abbott with a runner on third for his 33rd save.

``I think he's relaxing a little bit and not overthrowing,'' Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. ``When he relaxes and pitches, he has great stuff. He's going in the right direction.''

Though Park tied his career high with five straight wins, he hadn't pitched this well since a 2-1 loss to the Mets on Aug. 6 when he allowed two runs in seven innings. In his past four wins, Park had a 5.40 ERA.

``I'm happy and strong and believe in myself, and believe in my hitters, and believe in the next guy who throws behind me (in relief),'' Park said. ``I'm happy I just threw strikes and challenged hitters. It's a simple thing, but it makes me strong.''

The Dodgers have tried to get Park to pitch aggressively for most of the season, but the cerebral Park would think his way through too many situations instead of pitching his way through them.

``When he pitches and he gets out of a jam, and does it himself, like he did with the double play (of Vinny Castilla in the sixth), or when he struck Sammy Sosa out with the bases loaded (earlier in the month), it gets him involved and makes him bear down,'' said left fielder Gary Sheffield, who hit his 26th homer in the third inning and had two RBI. ``You have to carry that intensity from the first pitch to the last pitch. When you throw 96 (mph), it doesn't matter what the altitude is. They have to catch up to it.''

Dreifort scratched: Darren Dreifort never made it to the bullpen for his between-starts session because of a stiff shoulder, so Johnson said the right-hander will be skipped Tuesday. Instead, rookie lefty Jeff Williams will make his first major-league start. Rookie right-hander Eric Gagne will start Monday against San Francisco.

``I'm not going to take any chances with him,'' Johnson said. ``I told him, `I know how tough you are, but I don't want you being stupid.' There's a time for being brave, in the playoffs or something, but we're not in the playoffs.''

Dreifort, who left his last start with tightness in his shoulder, is hoping to start next Sunday in the Dodgers' home finale against San Diego.

``It hasn't bounced back like we thought it would,'' said Dreifort, who added he doesn't want to be shut down for the season. ``I just want to finish the season. It's more of a personal thing than anything else.''

DODGERS vs. COLORADO

Time: 12:05 p.m., at Coors Field.

TV/Radio: Channel 5; XTRA-AM (1150), KWKW-AM (1330 Spanish).

Matchup: If Dodgers right-hander Kevin Brown (16-8, 2.99 ERA) is to win 20 games this season, it'll have to begin with a win here. Brown has three definite starts left and could pitch on three days rest the final day of the season in Houston if he so chooses. Whether the Dodgers score any runs is another issue, even playing in the Rocky Mountain air. In Brown's last two starts, the Dodgers have three hits. Brown is 6-2 with a 1.66 ERA in his last 11 starts. One-time prized prospect John Thomson (1-7, 7.95) starts for the Rockies. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 5.04 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

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BOX: Dodgers vs. Colorado (see text)