HOULTON SHOWS THAT HE BELONGS DODGERS ROOKIE WINS FIRST MLB START DODGERS 2, MILWAUKEE 1.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

There were times during the season's first two months - times the Dodgers couldn't push a run across for all the world, didn't have many viable options on their bench and clearly could have used another bat somewhere - when some people wondered why Dodgers management was so insistent on carrying a dozen pitchers. More to the point, some people wondered why rookie right-hander D.J. Houlton, a Rule 5 draft pick with no previous major-league experience, continued to occupy a valuable roster spot.

Houlton was never one of those people.

``Not at all,'' he said. ``I'm in the big leagues. I was in Double-A last year. This is the spot I have always wanted to be in, and now I'm here.''

If there were any doubts about Houlton's big-league legitimacy, he officially laid them to rest on Saturday night. Making his first start in the majors after pitching no more than two innings in any of his sporadic relief appearances this season, Houlton worked methodically and economically into the sixth inning, just far enough to get the game to the big guns in the Dodgers' bullpen. With those relievers lights-out as usual, the Dodgers held on for a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers before 46,287 at Dodger Stadium.

With an off-day on Thursday, manager Jim Tracy was non-committal on whether Houlton will get a second start on Friday against Minnesota, saying he will answer that question this morning.

But the question of whether the Dodgers are fully committed to Houlton - who by virtue of being a Rule 5 pick must remain on the active roster all season or be offered back to the Houston Astros - doesn't appear to be much of a question at all, now.

``Really, I thought when I made the team out of (spring training), I was pretty much over the hump,'' Houlton said.

``I know I'm not going to be in a lot of pressure situations, and that's fine with me because I don't expect to be. But the pressure is off right now, and I'm just happy to get my first win in the big leagues.''

The win notwithstanding, the evening wasn't all smiles for the Dodgers. After a strikeout-caught stealing double play ended the seventh inning, the batter, third baseman Antonio Perez, resumed an argument that had originated two pitches earlier in which Perez felt he had been hit by a pitch.

Plate umpire Marty Foster, who believed the ball hit Perez's bat and was fouled off, finally ejected him. Tracy came out to defend his player and was also ejected.

As Tracy walked off the field, injured center fielder Milton Bradley came to the top step, clapping his hands, and shook Tracy's hand. Clearly angered, the umpires approached bench coach Jim Lett and ordered him to order Bradley to tone down his act.

Bradley was not ejected and probably won't be subject to further discipline.

Players on the disabled list are allowed to sit in the dugout, so long as they keep their mouths shut.

``He can't be involved in the game at all,'' crew chief Dana DeMuth said. ``It was basically a warning to tell him to watch out. He didn't do anything derogatory toward us, and that's why we didn't eject him.''

Dodgers closer Eric Gagne was ejected from a game earlier this season for bench jockeying while on the DL and was ordered by the league to stay out of the dugout until he was activated.

He failed to comply and was given a two-game suspension by the league.

Beyond that, though, the story was Houlton (1-0), who allowed just four hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking one. The only Brewers run scored in the top of the third, when they loaded the bases with none out on a drag bunt by pitcher Victor Santos, only to see Houlton minimize the damage by getting a run-scoring, double-play grounder from Brady Clark and an inning-ending grounder to second from Jeff Cirillo.

Not bad for a guy whom Tracy is hesitant to use in key situations out of the bullpen and who posted a 7.41 ERA in 13 relief appearances. He lowered it to 6.04.

``The big thing you have to do with young players is bring them along carefully,'' Tracy said. ``Eventually, you have to expose them a little bit. But you feel comfortable enough in the way you have nursed them along that you can give them a little more and see what they do with it.

``He responded very well.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, 4 boxes

Photo:

Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent throws to first after getting Milwaukee's Damian Miller on a force play at second in Saturday night's game.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) DODGERS vs. MILWAUKEE

- Tony Jackson

(2) GAME RECAP

(3) HOW THE RUNS SCORED

(4) DODGERS ALMANAC