MAKE IT EIGHT; DODGERS TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOWARD CONTENTION : DODGERS 6, SAN FRANCISCO 2.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

As the ball left Todd Zeile's bat and sailed into the crowd beyond the wall in left-center field, San Francisco Giants pitcher Julian Tavarez locked his hands behind his head and fell, squatting to the ground.

Tavarez's show of frustration was uncanny symbolism for what the Dodgers had counted on happening sooner or later - the Giants pitching coming undone.

Now that the Dodgers are scoring runs at a pace befitting a major-league team, they are oh-so-certain the race for the National League West title is theirs to win.

``Pitching is going to win out,'' manager Bill Russell said earlier this week. ``We know that. . . . We're scoring runs consistently now, and our pitching will be there.''

Hideo Nomo proved his manager right for one more day, as the Dodgers beat the Giants 6-2 on Friday night to move within four games of the division leaders.

Nomo and Giants pitcher Keith Foulke waged a close battle for 4-1/2 innings before Nomo himself started a six-run Dodgers' fifth.

The victory was the Dodgers eighth straight and second in the first two nights of this four-game series against the Giants at Dodger Stadium. It was the seventh time in eight games the Dodgers have reached double digits in hits and the fifth consecutive strong outing by a Dodgers starter.

That was crucial on a night in which the Dodgers announced they will pin their hopes - if only briefly and only every fifth day - on a 20-year-old kid who was in Single-A a year ago.

Nomo (9-7) followed up a stellar performance by Chan Ho Park on Thursday by scattering nine hits over eight innings. The Giants' only run off Nomo came on a homer by Jeff Kent. It was the first time Nomo won consecutive starts since April 30 and May 5.

The Dodgers announced during Friday's game they have purchased the contract of Dennis Reyes, a left-handed pitcher from Mexico, whom Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire briefly compared to Fernando Valenzuela. Reyes, 6-foot-3, 246 pounds, will start Sunday against the Giants, replacing Ismael Valdes, whom the Dodgers placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with a strained left hamstring.

``Fernando was probably 20 when he started his first major-league game,'' Claire said. ``. . . This young man (Reyes) is a very accomplished pitcher for his age. He's one of those pitchers with absolutely no fear. I don't have any concerns about putting him into the mix of a very important series.''

That's fortunate, because the Giants evidently concur that this race will come down to pitching. They too announced a change their rotation and will start All-Star Shawn Estes Sunday. Estes (12-2, 2.51) was originally to have rested until Monday. Tom Candiotti will make his fifth start in place of the injured Ramon Martinez (rotator cuff tear) today against the Giants' Mark Gardner.

So even were things Friday that Foulke made the last out of the top of the second inning and Nomo the last out of the bottom of the second. Even still in the fifth, Foulke led off the Giants' half with a strikeout and Nomo led off the Dodgers' half with a single to center field.

That's where the game became uneven. It's where Foulke got unhinged.

Brett Butler, just as Nomo had, lined an 0-2 pitch to center for a single. Then, as Nomo broke for third, Roger Cedeno laid down a perfect bunt in front of the plate. Giants catcher Damon Berryhill looked briefly at third before throwing to first base, which Cedeno crossed a second before the ball did.

The bases were loaded for Mike Piazza. Foulke got up 0-2 to Piazza before walking him to bring in Nomo with the game's first run. Giants manager Dusty Baker yanked Foulke for Tavarez.

Eric Karros followed with a single through the left side that scored Butler and Cedeno. After Raul Mondesi struck out, Zeile sent Tavarez's 1-2 pitch over the ``395'' mark in the left-field gap. It was the first time Tavarez had been scored on in 25 appearances.

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1--color) The Giants' Barry Bonds, who went 0 for 4, swings and misses for strike three.

(2--color) The Dodgers' Hideo Nomo struck out seven and walked two in eight innings.

(3) Right fielder Stan Javier of the Giants leaps to take a hit away from the Dodgers' Mike Piazza in the third.

Michael Owen Baker / Daily News