DODGERS SET THEIR GOAL TRACY SAYS TEAM'S PLIGHT NOW IS TO WIN DIVISION SEATTLE 9, DODGERS 2.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

You'd think the Dodgers would welcome the All-Star break.

They're grateful for the time off, don't misunderstand. And despite the lackluster three-game series against the Seattle Mariners, they're feeling good about themselves.

Why shouldn't they?

The Dodgers have plugged and prodded their way along through injury after injury to finish the first half of the season at 48-40, the most victories at the break since 1991, when they had 49. They've made do with the carousel that is the pitching staff. And they strung together a nine- game winning streak before Seattle came to town.

They want to build on that, not Sunday's 9-2 loss to Seattle, in which the Dodgers managed just five hits in front of 40,511 at Dodger Stadium. The Mariners won two of three games and outscored the Dodgers 25-4.

The Mariners left Los Angeles - complete with eight All-Stars - bound for Seattle and Tuesday's All-Star Game at Safeco Field. But they didn't leave the Dodgers, who ended the first half 3 1/2 games behind Arizona in the NL West, feeling down and out.

``It's unfortunate we couldn't win the ballgame,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``But the big picture is that we've played 88 games and we're in a position to where we're going to take a three-day break and show up on Thursday and begin our plight to try to win the Western Division. That's going to be our goal.''

So it should be no surprise that the Dodgers can't wait to get back on the field, especially after another rout by the Mariners (63-24).

Seattle's Aaron Sele shut down the Dodgers lineup and improved to 10-1 after allowing just two runs over eight innings. He retired the side in five of eight innings. And the Mariners used eight hits to score six runs in the seventh.

``They're just hot,'' said Jeff Reboulet, who had two hits. ``Everything they do is right. They don't make a lot of mistakes. I'm glad we don't have to play them for a while.''

Dan Wilson led off the seventh with a solo homer to left field, Sele singled, Ichiro Suzuki doubled and then reliever Mike Fetters got the call. And Seattle batted around in the inning.

``We got two quality wins here, and the Dodgers are playing well,'' Sele said. ``I just wanted to follow Freddy (Garcia) and Paul (Abbott's) lead. We just tried to make quality pitches and let our defense do the work.''

Throw in a stingy bullpen, which was needed for just an inning Sunday, and it's all the Mariners ever need.

The Dodgers couldn't exactly complain with the outing from left-hander Jeff Williams, who made a spot start in the rotation so Luke Prokopec's blister on his middle finger had time to heal.

Williams, making his first start since Sept. 30, 1999, surrendered six earned runs on eight hits against the hottest team in baseball. He walked three and threw a wild pitch. Oh yeah, and he hit Suzuki on the bottom part of his helmet.

Suzuki put his hand to his head and no doubt caused millions of fans in Japan to hold their collective breath while watching or listening to the game. A trainer briefly checked him out, and he was OK.

Suzuki later hit a double along the right-field line in the seventh, but it was his lone hit of the night. His teammates would collect five hits off Fetters in the seventh.

``I did my best and it wasn't enough, not even close,'' Fetters said. ``I just didn't have it today. I thought I made some decent pitches and they beat me.''

It was the second poor outing by Fetters since coming off the disabled list with a left cervical spasm. On Friday, Fetters allowed six runs on four hits and didn't record an out in a 13-0 loss to Seattle.

But Fetters has done a solid job most of the season. Just like Paul Lo Duca, who played after getting hit in the face Saturday, Reboulet, Terry Adams and Giovanni Carrara. The Dodgers have had to dig deep because of injuries. They lost two starting pitchers - Darren Dreifort and Andy Ashby - to season-ending injuries.

Imagine where they could be without all the drama. Imagine what they still can do, is what Tracy has them thinking.

``Hopefully when guys come back we still have that fire,'' Fetters said. ``Good teams are gonna have that fire. The teams that aren't going to be in contention are just going to collect their paychecks. The guys in this clubhouse want to win.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, box

Photo:

Dodgers center fielder Tom Goodwin loses control of the ball Sunday at Dodger Stadium.

John Kennedy/Special to the Daily News

Box: MARINERS 9, DODGERS 2