DODGERS SWEEP BEHIND STARTERS ISHII REACHES 5-0; ASHBY THWARTS CUBS IN ONE-HITTER DODGERS 5-4, CHICAGO 4-1.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

CHICAGO - During the latter innings of the second game of Sunday's doubleheader, Dodgers relievers Omar Daal, Terry Mulholland and Guillermo Mota were throwing in the bullpen.

They weren't getting ready to pitch. They were getting in side work.

Indeed, the Dodgers' starting pitching is dominating opponents so much that not even a doubleheader could make a dent in the bullpen.

Lefty Kazuhisa Ishii continued his perfect start with seven strong innings in a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the first game, but that was only a prelude to Andy Ashby's eight masterful one-hit innings in a 4-1 victory in the nightcap at Wrigley Field.

The Dodgers (16-9) concluded their road trip with five victories in six games and with a share of first place with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West. The starting pitchers went 5-1 with a 1.98 ERA on the road, a 0.75 ERA in the past five games, and held Cubs hitters to a .066 batting average in L.A.'s sweep of the three-game series.

And to think the Dodgers return home Tuesday, when staff ace Kevin Brown returns to the starting rotation.

``I forgot about that guy. Who?'' said a smiling Dodgers right-hander Eric Gagne, who closed the first game for his ninth save. ``That's unbelievable. It's so much fun. It's so much easier for everybody. In the bullpen, you're always fresh. You're not going to be overworked. We don't have to push and the offense doesn't have to press.''

Offensively, Brian Jordan hit a three-run homer and reserve players Chad Kreuter, Dave Hansen and Alex Cora went 5 for 11 with three RBI in the Dodgers' first doubleheader sweep since Aug. 25, 2000, at Wrigley Field.

``It's really good to see that it is a whole team effort, and it's nice to actually see the success of guys when other (players) are getting days off,'' Hansen said. ``That's really what we talk about being a team playing. It's a sense of everybody playing and being together, and that's what we're trying to do. Fill in that spot and not let the quality drop off. When it actually works, it's a good feeling.''

Ashby faced two batters over the minimum through eight innings and was as impressive as Odalis Perez in his start Friday to begin the series when he faced the minimum 27 batters.

Cubs leadoff hitter Corey Patterson, who ruined Perez's perfect game with a seventh-inning infield single, had the only hit against Ashby. However, at least he didn't need a fortuitous bounce. Patterson hit a line drive over a leaping Hansen at first base to lead off the fourth inning.

Ashby, who threw 97 pitches, struck out a season-high eight. Reliever Paul Quantrill allowed a two-out double by Delino DeShields and an RBI single from Sammy Sosa in the ninth, but the Cubs had only 10 hits and a .115 batting average in the series.

Ashby ended a three-game winless streak and is 2-2. Ishii is the first Dodgers starter to begin a season 5-0 since Orel Hershiser in 1985. Ishii is the first Dodgers rookie starter to begin a season with five consecutive victory since Fernando Valenzuela went 8-0 in 1981.

``My rhythm was a lot better and I was mixing the pitches up,'' Ashby said. ``It's like a new thing every time, just trying muscle memory and what felt right and what didn't feel right. I'm not going to get too overconfident, but the timing felt a lot better. I think I was getting too much into mechanics instead of being aggressive and making the pitch.''

While Ashby feels his way back from elbow surgery that limited him to two starts last season, Ishii is feeling his way through his first season of major-league baseball after a playing career in Japan.

Ishii already has baffled hitters with his array of pitches, and in winning two games on the road trip he showed off his polished talent with adjustments within the game. The only run he allowed in the first game came via a leadoff homer from (who else?) Patterson in the first. Patterson struck out in his next two at-bats against Ishii, including an awful half-hearted swing on a sharp-breaking slider that had Patterson initially ducking out of the way.

``As a starter, I know we had a doubleheader so I did want to go at least seven innings,'' Ishii said through an interpreter. ``I thought that was my responsibility and I was able to do that, and I'm happy with that. Not only with Patterson, but with all of the hitters, I was making various adjustments. With him, in particular, I did talk with (catcher) Chad Kreuter about that. It was just to change speeds more.''

Ishii also stopped pitching out of a windup, similar to when he beat Pittsburgh in his last start. Ishii had difficulty finding his rhythm through three innings, so he abandoned the windup and pitched from the stretch.

He promptly retired 11 consecutive batters and faced the minimum 12 batters in his final four innings.

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Kazuhisa Ishii got the victory in the first game, becoming the first Dodgers starter since 1985 to begin a season 5-0.

Aynsley Floyd/Associated Press