Brown Sharp Again, but L.A. Bats Quiet in 3-2 Loss

PHOENIX —  Pinch-hitter Rob Ryan’s two-out, ninth-inning, run-scoring single Wednesday night gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a 3-2 victory over the Dodgers before 34,526 at Bank One Ballpark.

Ryan, batting for pitcher Dan Plesac (5-0), singled through the middle against Terry Adams (6-8) to drive in Jason Conti from third.

The Dodgers wasted another strong performance from starter Kevin Brown, who worked seven innings in his 12th no-decision in 30 starts.

Jay Bell and Greg Colbrunn hit solo home runs in the sixth inning to stake Arizona starter Brian Anderson to a 2-0 lead. Anderson gave up four hits and one run in eight innings.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre provided the Dodgers’ runs with a solo home run--his 18th--in the eighth, cutting the Diamondbacks’ lead to 2-1. Beltre tied the score in the ninth with a single against Arizona closer Matt Mantei.

The Dodgers (75-71) dropped to fourth place in the division after a 2-4 trip.

The second-place Diamondbacks (78-66) remained 8 1/2 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the National League West, and 4 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the wild-card race.

Brown, who lost his first start on the trip, gave up six hits and struck out four with a walk.

The right-hander is second in the league with a 2.71 earned-run average, but is only 12-6 with three starts remaining.

“Brownie has been on his game,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “We just haven’t supported him much.”

*

Dave Hansen, whose seven pinch-hit homers have established a single-season major league record, will return to the Dodgers next season.

The Dodgers plan to exercise a $550,000 option in Hansen’s contract for 2001, sources said.

Chairman Bob Daly overruled team officials who wanted to release Hansen, who is making $475,000 this season, in spring training.

*

The commissioner’s office has completed its investigation into allegations that the Dodgers violated rules in signing Venezuelan pitcher Felix Arellan before his 16th birthday, sources said.

Arellan, 0-1 with a 6.11 earned-run average in 13 games at Great Falls, Mont., is seeking to become a free agent. A decision is expected to be announced within three weeks.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Colorado Rockies, four games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7

* TV--Fox Sports Net 2 today; Channel 5 on Saturday and Sunday.

* Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330)

* Records--Dodgers 75-71, Rockies 75-70.

* Record vs. Rockies--6-3.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’

CHAN HO PARK

(15-9, 3.59 ERA)

vs.

ROCKIES’

BRIAN ROSE

(3-2, 4.67 ERA)

* Update--Park has a 2.53 ERA in his last 12 starts. The right-hander is 5-4 with a 6.60 ERA against the Rockies. Rose is 1-0 with a 2.50 ERA in four road starts.

* Friday, 7 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (11-8, 4.53) vs. Pedro Astacio (12-9, 5.35).

* Saturday, 7 p.m.--Eric Gagne (2-6, 5.44) vs. Julian Tavarez (10-3, 4.21).

* Sunday, 1 p.m.--Luke Prokopec (0-0, 1.23) vs. Masato Yoshii (6-14, 5.68).