DODGERS NOTEBOOK : OFFENSE STILL CAN'T PULL RANK.

Even as the heat intensifies in the National League West race, the Dodgers' production at the plate seems to be experiencing a cooling trend.

Entering Friday night's game against St. Louis, the Dodgers had averaged only three runs per game in seven of their previous eight outings. Along the way were decisions of 2-1, 3-2, 4-3. This has served to heighten the Dodgers' reliance on their strong pitching staff.

It has also tightened considerably their margin for error.

``Would it be nice to win every game by five or six runs? Sure,'' said first baseman Eric Karros.

``. . . Our pitching carried us the first half; there's no doubt about it. We've got very good pitching. But to say it's carried us the second half? No, I wouldn't say that. Offensively, I think we've been more productive now.''

There has been a slight boost in output. The Dodgers averaged 4.16 runs per game before the All-Star break. Since, they're at 4.58. Their team batting average hasn't budged .252 before the break, .252 since.

Recent improvement or no, the Dodgers went into Friday night's game ranked last in the National League in average (.252), next to last in runs scored (631) and third from last in hits (1,260).

Said Karros: ``Just looking at the numbers, you say, `Geez, we weren't really that good this year offensively,' but the first half we were miserable.

``Our pitching has been very good, and without it we wouldn't be where we are right now, but I think definitely the gap has closed.''

Auld lang syne: Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith, who is completing his 18th and final major-league season, was honored in a pregame ceremony.

St. Louis manager Tony La Russa offered a tribute of his own for the night - giving Smith a starting assignment in the leadoff spot.

Smith, who grew up in Los Angeles, attending Locke High, broke into tears when the crowd bathed him in applause as he stepped to the mike.

The show included a video tribute built around the movie ``The Wizard of Oz,'' with Smith's dazzling fielding highlights accompanied by ``Over the Rainbow.''

Smith's voice cracked as he talked of riding the bus across town as a child to attend Dodgers games. Among those who spoke in praise of him were Dodgers manager Bill Russell and relief pitcher Todd Worrell, a former teammate of Smith's at St. Louis.

Also: After being ``rested'' in two consecutive games against left-handed starters, second baseman Delino DeShields spent a third night in Russell's doghouse, giving way to Chad Fonville against a right-handed pitcher. Russell reiterated that he is going with the hot hands in the stretch drive, and said of DeShields: ``I think it's good for him to take a few days off. How many remains to be seen.'' DeShields, is batting .224, has one hit in his last 29 at-bats and lacks both the defensive range and the baserunning prowess of the speedy Fonville. . . . Fonville will be available to the Dodgers in the playoffs as a replacement for injured Brett Butler. . . . Infielder Juan Castro remains unavailable to the team because of a back injury suffered recently during afternoon batting practice.