DODGERS STRUGGLE IN LOSS ASHBY LASTS JUST THREE INNINGS IN HOUSTON HOUSTON 8, DODGERS 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

HOUSTON - There was no throwing of money and no standing ovation for players. No fans picketed outside, nor did the players. Fans didn't post disparaging signs, nor did they stay away in droves.

There was no sign the sometimes acrimonious, often tenuous labor strife had been settled earlier in the day to preserve what historians believe to be the sanctity of a season.

It was, by all standards, just another game in another season in late August.

But that Dodgers right-hander Andy Ashby even was afforded the opportunity to allow five runs in three innings of an 8-4 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday in front of 30,046 at Minute Maid Park was reason for optimism and smiles in the losing clubhouse.

The Dodgers' lead over San Francisco in the National League wild-card race stands at 1 1/2 games, pending the outcome of the Giants' game at Arizona. Houston, which trails NL Central leader St. Louis by 2 1/2 games, is five games behind the Dodgers in the wild-card race.

``The main thing is we're playing and we have a deal,'' Ashby said after his shortest outing since April 4, 1999. ``That's what we should be doing. It's a tough situation for everybody, but I think you tip your hat to the fans for hanging in there. The main thing to look at is thank God we've got it worked out and thank God we're playing.''

Ashby said he wasn't affected by not knowing whether there would be a place to pitch until eight hours before game time, which is when baseball and the players association told their constituents an accord was reached on a four-year collective-bargaining agreement.

If no deal was made, the players were set to strike for the ninth time since 1972.

``I think the fans are just excited about baseball, and the stuff is behind (everyone) now, just like the owners are and the players are, which is really nice,'' said Houston second baseman Craig Biggio, who homered off reliever Kevin Brown to lead off the fifth inning. ``I think it was awesome just from the standpoint that we don't have to worry about this anymore for another four or five years. We're able to put it behind us and start concentrating on the division races, and the wild-card races. That's the greatest thing about it and I think the fans are excited about it, too.''

Ashby wasn't hurt by third baseman Adrian Beltre's mental gaffe in the second inning, when he failed to cover his base when Orlando Merced was picked off second by catcher Paul Lo Duca. But he couldn't overcome poor pitch location an inning later, when he allowed Lance Berkman's RBI single, a sacrifice fly to Daryle Ward and Merced's two-run triple to right as Houston went ahead 4-0.

It was Ashby last inning, completing the shortest stint of his Dodgers career. Brown relieved, and though Beltre hit a three-run homer to pull the Dodgers within 6-4 in the seventh inning, Brown allowed the first three runners to reach base in a two-run Astros seventh and the Dodgers couldn't recover.

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(color) Dodgers starter Andy Ashby reacts after giving up a double to Houston's Wade Miller.

Pat Sullivan/Associated Press

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