Brown Survives Ugly Loss

KISSIMMEE, Fla. —  Pitcher Kevin Brown had to be escorted off the Osceola County Stadium mound and to the clubhouse by a trainer in the third inning of Tuesday’s 12-0 exhibition loss to the Houston Astros.

Don’t worry, Brown’s surgically repaired right elbow is fine. But the outside of his right knee was bruised after Daryle Ward’s one-hop smash nailed Brown in the leg, knocking him out of an unsightly game in which the ace right-hander gave up eight runs--three of them earned--and six hits in 21/3 innings.

Brown, who threw 44 pitches, 31 for strikes, declined to speak with reporters, and Manager Jim Tracy said the injury did not appear serious. An X-ray of Brown’s knee didn’t show any damage.

“I’m pleased that arm-wise, he was very good, very firm,” Tracy said. “He was throwing 92-94 mph in the first inning. And he got enough outs to pitch at least four innings.”

Shortstop Alex Cora booted Craig Biggio’s grounder to start the first, and Brad Ausmus (single), Jeff Bagwell (two-run double), Lance Berkman (RBI double) and Ward (RBI single) followed with hits. An error by second baseman Jeff Reboulet and two errors by third baseman Phil Hiatt paved the way for a seven-run third inning, which included Morgan Ensberg’s three-run homer off reliever Matt Herges.

“I know it’s only spring training, but we were horrible,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “We should be embarrassed by the way we played today.”

Tracy thought some choppy infield dirt contributed to the Dodger’s five errors. A bad-hop grounder during batting practice hit Houston shortstop Adam Everett in the right thumb, knocking him out for two days.

“That field was very rugged, to say the least,” Tracy said. “It doesn’t rain for a while, and the [infield] clay just bakes. The ground was as hard as the turnpike we’re going to drive back on.”

Tracy remains “very hopeful” that Brown, who has made only three spring starts, will be ready to pitch opening day against San Francisco on April 2, even though Brown is well behind the team’s other starters. Tracy will go to Plan B--most likely Hideo Nomo--if Brown hasn’t built up enough stamina to open the season.

Regardless of when Brown pitches his first game, he does appear to be making steady progress.

“The quality of Brown’s pitches and the strength of his arm look good,” pitching coach Jim Colborn said. “He just needs to put a glove on his knee.”

Kazuhisa Ishii’s next spring start has been pushed back indefinitely while the Dodgers try to realign his throwing program with the one he used in Japan. Ishii, who gave up six runs and six hits, including three homers, Saturday against the Yankees, threw 60 pitches in the bullpen Tuesday and will throw on the side again today.

“That’s the way he trained in Japan,” said Colborn, who spent four years as a pitching coach in Japan. “That’s the way the Japanese pitchers are used to conditioning. I’ve seen them throw bullpen, bullpen, bullpen, then go five innings in a game. He could take four days off, throw more bullpens, throw seven innings in another game and be ready for the season.”

Right fielder Shawn Green started at first base, an indication that reserve outfielder/first baseman Dante Bichette, who is batting .200, does not have a roster spot locked up.

“If Eric Karros gets hurt, who plays first base if Dante doesn’t make the team?” Tracy said. “I’m not 100% convinced [Bichette] is on this club. He has to convince me. As a result, I’m going to use Dante over the next week and a half in a similar fashion that I’d use him during the regular season, as a pinch-hitter off the bench.”

*

Andy Ashby, who also is recovering from elbow surgery, had his best outing of the spring, giving up one run and six hits in 32/3 innings. Ashby threw 52 pitches, and was happy with his command.

“It’s something to build on,” Ashby said. “I threw pitches close to where I wanted to throw them. I’m trusting my stuff more, concentrating more on location, not taking for granted that my pitches are going to go where I want them.”

Odalis Perez pitched five scoreless innings in a triple-A game at Vero Beach, Fla., giving up three hits, striking out four and walking one.... The Dodgers optioned infielders Jorge Nunez and Joe Thurston to triple-A Las Vegas, and pitchers Mike Johnson, Dennis Springer and Todd Williams were re-assigned to minor league camp.