DREIFORT TAKES CHARGE : DODGERS 8, MILWAUKEE 4.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

For the past month the Dodgers have been reduced to making personal statements rather than team statements.

Sometimes those statements come from the public relations staff, but occasionally they're made on the field. Like the one right-hander Darren Dreifort is in the process of delivering with the subtlety of devastating right hook.

Fresh off his second career shutout, Dreifort outlasted a two-hour, 10-minute rain delay to overwhelm the Milwaukee Brewers 8-4 Monday at soggy County Stadium.

Though Dreifort (11-12) wishes not to discuss his future role, either as starter or reliever, it's clear which way he's forcing the Dodgers. He's gained control of his ever-moving fastball and slider, and the decrease in walks has led to increased productivity.

After going 3-7 with a 6.37 ERA through June and July, Dreifort has answered critics by going 3-2 with 3.31 ERA. It's even more impressive since Dreifort had one miserable outing this month, a seven-run, six-inning debacle against Atlanta.

Until Dreifort shut out Florida in his last start, he completed seven innings just twice. The last time was June 24. In allowing three runs in eight innings against the Brewers, Dreifort pitched at least seven innings in back-to-back starts for the first time this season. He walked one and struck out four.

Dreifort also extended his shutout streak to 15-2/3 innings before Geoff Jenkins' RBI single with two outs in the sixth. By then, though, the now third-place Dodgers were cruising to their fourth win in five games. It began when the oft-booed Gary Sheffield singled in Eric Young in the first.

The Dodgers then showed uncanny, and uncharacteristic, patience at the plate in knocking their former staff ace Hideo Nomo out of the game.

Nomo, a former Rookie of the Year for the Dodgers, walked four batters in a five-run fifth inning, including three straight. Eric Karros and Raul Mondesi had RBI walks before Devon White doubled in three runs to give the Dodgers a 6-0 lead.

Nomo signed with the Brewers in late April after being released by the Mets in spring training and after making a few minor-league starts for the Cubs.

Even with the loss, the signing has worked out well. Nomo (10-6) is second on the club in wins and leads the staff with 116 strikeouts. And though he allowed six runs on four hits in six innings, only one run was earned. The Dodgers' five-run fifth was sparked by shortstop Jose Valentin's error.

But Nomo might not be here after this season. Then-general manager Sal Bando, who was recently reassigned within the organization, signed Nomo for $250,000 with no incentives. However, there was also no option on the contract, so Nomo will be a free agent after the season.

Dreifort got out of trouble in the sixth when he got Jeff Cirillo to ground into a double play with two on and none out. Though Jenkins followed with his run-scoring single to right field, the inning hardly had bite to it.

An inning later, the Brewers ended a horrific streak when Jose Valentin hit a two-run homer off Dreifort to pull Milwaukee within 6-3. It was the first Brewers homer in 13 games and broke a streak of plate appearances without a long ball at 557.

While Nomo's downfall was all the free passes, that just happens to be why Dreifort's been so successful. He spent the first 45 starts of his career walking batters.

It hit rock bottom during an April start against Atlanta. Dreifort allowed two hits in 5-1/3 innings but walked a career-high nine. He walked 60 batters in his first 110 innings before the control turnaround. In his last six starts, totaling 41 innings, Dreifort has walked six batters.