STAGE SET FOR DODGERS : DESPITE LOSS, L.A. GEARED FOR PADRES COLORADO 6, DODGERS 4.

Byline: Tim Brown Daily News Staff Writer

For two months they have measured each other from virtually the same perspective, at or near the top of the National League West.

So while the Dodgers' 6-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday afternoon at Coors Field trimmed their lead to a half game over San Diego, this defeat passed a little easier than most.

They won two of three here, including Hideo Nomo's no-hitter Tuesday night, and boarded an airplane with their pitching staff and their bullpen in particular, intact.

Today they begin a four-game series against the Padres, their most critical of the season thus far. The Dodgers lead the Padres by one game in the loss column.

``This is the matchup we've been waiting for,'' Dodgers manager Bill Russell said. ``We've been talking about it, writing about it . . . It's going to be a great series. We're looking forward to it.''

If they don't get enough of each other over the next four days, they play again in the final three days of the season, next weekend at Dodger Stadium. It long ago became apparent to the Dodgers that they were playing for the next 10 games, and that everything before this had to do with positioning.

The Dodgers never did shake the Padres, though neither did the Padres lose the Dodgers.

``I don't know if it's that important, but we are in first place, so they have to take it away from us,'' Russell said. ``If that puts added pressure on them, then that's what we want.''

Despite their loss Wednesday, when starter Pedro Astacio allowed five runs, four earned, in five innings, and the Dodgers did not have a hit over the final 5-2/3 innings, the Dodgers have won 20 of their last 26 games and 27 of 37. By all accounts they are playing their best baseball of the season, which isn't a bad way to finish it out.

``We were going to have to beat one another regardless,'' Dodgers first baseman Eric Karros said. ``I said all along it was going to come down to the last week.

``Obviously the team that plays the best over those seven games is going to have a good chance to win the division.''

In between those series, the Dodgers play three game at Dodger Stadium against the San Francisco Giants, and the Padres play two at Jack Murphy Stadium against the Rockies.

``I'd have to give the advantage to L.A.,'' said Bob Gebhard, general manager of the Rockies. ``They've got those seven games, but where are the last three? If they're still within one or two games of the Padres and you go down to the last series, the (home-field) advantage gets really big. But anything can happen. That's the beauty of baseball, and the beauty of the wild card.''

Said Ellis Burks, the Rockies outfielder: ``Flip a coin. They're that even as far as pitching and hitting.''

The Dodgers arrive in San Diego fresh. They used only four relievers for a total of five innings against the Rockies, in contrast to the last series here, when the Dodgers needed 15 appearances and 12-2/3 innings, and lost three of those four games. Starters Nomo, Astacio and Ismael Valdes combined for 21 of the 26 innings pitched - nine as a result of Nomo's no-hitter.

``Guys came in here last time and let it affect them,'' pitching coach Dave Wallace said. ``We're in the heat of the battle here. These guys are professionals and I think they approached it that way.

``I feel good about the health of the staff going in.''

The Dodgers spent most of the summer attempting to keep up with the emerging Padres, and on Sept. 6 moved into a first-place tie. They have not been out of first since, though they lost a game in the standings Wednesday because of the Padres' win in San Francisco.

``We're not scared of them,'' Dodgers center fielder Wayne Kirby said. ``I don't think we have any pressure. All we have to do is worry about us, and worry about winning three out of four.''

The Dodgers have won their last eight series and 11 of their last 12. Though that won't surprise or intimidate the Padres, who have won right along with them.

``We've played the last month as well as we've played all year long,'' Karros said. ``We've been playing well, but, by the same token, San Diego's been playing just as well.''

WILD FINISH

A look at the NL playoff race and the chase for the league batting title:

Dodgers (-1/2 game up in West): Lost to Colorado 6-4

Padres (1 game up for wild card): Beat San Francisco 8-5

Expos (1 game back for wild card): Beat New York 4-3

Mike Piazza, Dodgers: 0 for 3, RBI, run (.342)

Ellis Burks, Colorado: Did not bat (.342)

Tony Gwynn, San Diego x: 2 for 2 (.356)

x - does not have enough plate appearances to qualify.

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Chart

Photo: Dodgers Mike Piazza grounds into a force play during the second inning. Piazza went hitless in three at-bats and was 1 for 10 in the series.

Associated Press

Chart: WILD FINISH (see text)