DODGERS STATUS QUO NOT SO BAD L.A. WINS BEHIND BROWN, SHEFFIELD DODGERS 1, FLORIDA 0.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

First it was Gary Sheffield. Then it was Kevin Malone. Once the off- field drama subsided, the Dodgers on-field troubles started.

The Dodgers injury report nearly was as lengthy as Malone's laundry list of blunders. The offense often is potent and at other times is anemic.

Say what you will about the Dodgers, because they're in first place in the NL West, the constant among their constant chaos being Kevin Brown.

Brown was brilliant Monday as he struck out a season-high 10 batters, making Sheffield's solo homer in the sixth inning stand in the Dodgers' 1-0 victory over the Florida Marlins in front of 20,807 fans at Dodger Stadium.

``I'm sure that people ask the question, 'How are they up there?' '' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``We're very proud of that fact. We've weathered a lot of storms.''

And rode the steady pitching of Brown (5-1), who threw a two-hitter in eight innings, holding the Marlins hitless through five innings. Luis Castillo broke up the no-hit bid in the sixth with a two-out infield single. Castillo's shot bounced above a leaping Brown, but a charging Mark Grudzielanek scooped it up on the run and fired to first.

Castillo was ruled safe, but it was close. It didn't matter as Brown - who was struck in the left leg by a line drive hit by Cliff Floyd in the fourth inning - got better with every inning.

``That's about as sick as you'll ever get,'' Florida's Kevin Millar said of Brown's pitching after striking out in all three of his at-bats. ``Nobody in this league throws a 92 (mph) split finger but Kevin Brown. The guy's absolutely sick.''

And durable. Brown, bent over in pain, was able to withstand the shot by Floyd. Play was stopped, but Brown continued to pitch after a few minutes. He said his leg is ``a little bit stiff.''

Throughout his career, Brown has a reputation for being struck by comebackers.

``If somebody wants to volunteer to take this bull's-eye I've seemed to have for 13 years, they're welcome to it,'' Brown said.

Brown's 10 strikeouts were the most since he recorded 13 against San Diego on Sept. 23 last season. Brown faced 27 batters - only four over the minimum - in his eight innings and struck out at least 10 in a game for the 22nd time in his career. He threw 113 pitches, 76 for strikes.

``If there's a better competitor in baseball, I'd like to know who it is,'' Tracy said.

Tom Goodwin made sure Brown's gem stayed intact by making a diving catch of a ball Eric Owens hit to center field after Castillo's hit.

Brown gave the Dodgers, who have a one-game lead over Arizona, a lift and saved the weary bullpen. Closer Jeff Shaw retired the side in the ninth to earn his 10th save. Floyd struck out looking to end the game.

A.J. Burnett, making his first start of the season for the Marlins since recovering from a broken right foot, was sharp as he held the Dodgers to just three hits - which was all they got all night - in six innings. Besides Sheffield's home run and Goodwin's 2-for-3 outing, the rest of the lineup went 0 for 20, the lowlight of which was Eric Karros striking out looking with the bases loaded in the third.

The Dodgers have scored just four runs in 37 innings, but one run from the ex-Marlin was all they needed Monday. Sheffieldplayed with the Marlins from 1993-98 and holds many of their career records, including home runs (122) and runs scored (365).

But it was Brown who continued to shine despite a stiff back and other ailments.

``He had unbelievable stuff,'' Marlins manager Jim Boles said. ``He threw a lot of cutters. He's got the total package and he brought it (Monday). His stuff was so nasty.''