GRISSOM FEASTS ON LEFTY-OVERS HR 3, 3 RBI PROPEL L.A.; ISHII NOW 8-1 DODGERS 8, MILWAUKEE 4.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

This platoon the Dodgers have going in center field has turned out to be effective. Marquis Grissom got his turn on Tuesday and made the most of it.

Grissom, who trades off with Dave Roberts and usually faces left-handers, hit the game-winning home run and then provided a little insurance to spark the Dodgers to a 8-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday in front of a crowd of 22,362 at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers starter Kazuhisa Ishii improved to 8-1 despite early control problems. He spotted Milwaukee four runs in the third for a 4-0 deficit, but the Dodgers rallied to win for the third time in four games.

Grissom hit a two-run home run to left-center field - his sixth - off starter Glendon Rusch .to give the Dodgers a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning. Grissom is batting .303 with 20 RBI.

The veteran has done what he can to help Roberts, which in turn has helped him.

``Making (Roberts) better makes me better, and making me better makes him better,'' Grissom said. ``We both have a job to do and we both want to do well. It's going to take all of us, anyway. All 25 guys. Not just 24 or 15. It takes 25 to go the distance.''

Ishii lasted 6 2/3 innings after struggling early. He couldn't control his breaking pitch but was more effective as the game progressed. He walked three and gave up four runs on six hits.

The Brewers scored all their runs on four hits and one error in the third after loaded the bases.

``I don't know how that always comes to happen,'' Ishii said of his slow start. ``In my mind, I didn't want to give up any more runs.''

He didn't. Neither did Dodgers reliever Bryan Corey, playing in his fourth major-league game after being recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday to replace the ailing Kevin Brown. Corey, a Thousand Oaks High and Pierce College product, pitched a scoreless ninth.

In the eighth, Grissom hit a broken bat, run-scoring single to center to give the Dodgers a 6-4 lead.

``I'm very comfortable with what's going on with the situation with Grip (Grissom) and Dave Roberts,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``They're complementing each other well and as a result, we're getting production from both guys.

``It's a little bit different type of lineup with Grip in there. It's a little more power-oriented than it is on the days that David's there. So be it. You structure your managerial style on that given day accordingly.''

The Dodgers scored three runs in the eighth against the hapless Brewers, who fell to 17-35 and 5-18 on the road.

One day after Hideo Nomo walked seven batters, Ishii walked two batters in the first but retired the next two to get out of the inning.

Ishii threw 108 pitches before he was placed by Giovanni Carrara in the seventh. Carrara walked Richie Sexson but then got Alex Ochoa to ground out to end the inning and then pitched a scoreless eighth.

Ishii, who doesn't look comfortable at the plate, had two sacrifice bunts on Tuesday. He also hit a popup bunt in the first that was turned into a double play.

Shawn Green, who was named National League player of the week, went 1 for 3 with no home runs.

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Kazuhisa Ishii

Dodgers rookie struggles again early but pitches 6 2/3 innings to improve his record to 8-1.