SELE HELPS DODGERS SEAL WIN OVER GIANTS STARTER GOES SIX INNINGS, REMAINS UNDEFEATED AT HOME DODGERS 3, SAN FRANCISCO 1.

Byline: RICH HAMMOND  Staff Writer

For all the Dodgers have endured in the past three-plus months -- injuries, slumps and an influx of rookie hitters -- things don't look too bad at this unofficial midpoint of the season.

As baseball begins its All-Star break today, the Dodgers hold a 1 1/2-game lead in the National League wild-card race and are just two games behind San Diego for first place in the NL West.

Things just seem to be breaking the Dodgers' way this season. Perhaps no player represents that better than starter Aaron Sele, who tossed six solid innings Sunday as the Dodgers beat San Francisco 3-1 in front of 41,849 at Dodger Stadium to earn a split in the four-game series.

The Dodgers head into the break with a 46-42 record, six games better than at the same point a season ago.

``It's a `B','' manager Grady Little said when asked to grade his team. ``We're in a good position, but we have a long way to go. ... There are some good teams in our division. It will go down to the last month.''

If Sele's numbers hold up, the Dodgers could be in good shape heading into that final stretch. Sele (6-2) allowed one run on four hits in six innings for his ninth quality start in 11 starts this season.

Sele, 35 years old and a 14-year major-league veteran, didn't fare well in spring training and started the season in Triple-A, but had his contract purchased by the Dodgers on May 6.

Since then, Sele has given the Dodgers a run of success they never could have anticipated.

Other than consecutive bumpy starts in mid-June, Sele has been consistently effective, and after his strong effort Sunday, he's 6-0 with a 1.65 ERA in seven starts at Dodger Stadium.

``I'm not really sure what it is,'' Sele said. ``I need to keep the ball down, move it around and really pitch. I need to get some groundballs because they're playing good defense behind me.''

Sele ran into trouble only once, in the fifth inning. He retired 13 of the first 15 Giants he faced, but loaded the bases with two outs in fifth. Omar Vizquel singled home Mark Sweeney to cut the Dodgers' lead to 2-1, but Sele came back to get No. 3 hitter Moises Alou to pop up to short to end the inning.

``He changed speeds and moved the ball in and out,'' Giants outfielder Randy Winn said of Sele, his teammate in Seattle last season. ``That's what he does.''

Somewhat surprisingly, Little stuck with Sele to start the sixth, even with Barry Bonds leading off and the Dodgers nursing a one-run lead. But Sele retired the side in order. In six innings, Sele allowed four hits, walked one and struck out a season-high seven.

Brad Penny, Joe Beimel, Danys Baez and Takashi Saito combined for three scoreless innings of relief, and Saito earned his eighth save.

The Dodgers provided early run support against the Giants' Jason Schmidt, who broke form by allowing two runs in the first inning. In 17 previous starts this season, Schmidt allowed just one first-inning run.

Rafael Furcal led off with an infield single and scored when Cesar Izturis doubled to the gap in right-center. Izturis moved to third on a flyout and scored on Nomar Garciaparra's sacrifice fly.

After the Giants closed to within one run, the Dodgers added an insurance run in the sixth. Garciaparra led off with a single, moved to second on Andre Ethier's walk and scored on Jose Cruz's single.

Schmidt (6-5) lasted sixinnings and allowed threeruns on seven hits with onewalk and three strikeouts.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1) Right-hander Aaron Sele improved to 6-0 at Dodger Stadium this season by defeating San Francisco on Sunday.

(2) Nomar Garciaparra slides home with the Dodgers' third run in the sixth inning.

(3) The Giants' Barry Bonds went 1 for 4 with a double and a strikeout.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box:

DODGERS 3, GIANTS 1