By Jacob Luft
SportsLine Staff Writer

Brown earning his keep

If any player will have a hard time earning his paycheck this year, it's $15 million-a-year man Kevin Brown.

At least Brown is proving his supporters right by showing the mental toughness that has led his last two teams to the World Series.

He has pitched well since taking an Opening Day bashing from Arizona, allowing only four earned runs in 28 innings. But the Dodgers have wasted his last two starts by with untimely errors and a lack of run support. A lesser pitcher would get frustrated, but not Brown.

Kevin Brown goes sidearm against Milwaukee.(AP)

It took another gutty effort last night, against the Brewers, just for Brown get his record above .500. In 6 2/3 innings, he allowed two runs while striking out seven in the Dodgers' 3-2 victory. L.A.'s Raul Mondesi's two-run homer in the sixth inning put the Dodgers in front to stay.

Said Brown, who battled control problems (four walks) most of the night; "Good, bad, and ugly. It had some good points and it had some bad points. It was a game where I had to battle. It's a win. To pitch well and lose? I'd rather have to battle and win."

So what's the feeling around the league now that Brown is living up to the contract?

Far from being jealous, Curt Schilling of the Phillies only wishes his team would spend the kind of money the Dodgers spent on Brown.

"You've got to spend money," Schilling said. "C'mon, you put Randy Johnson in our rotation and we're contenders. Would it be worth it? Yes. But we continue to hear we're a small-market club. We're not a small-market club."

Schilling pitched nine shutout innings but got a no-decision last night in Philly's 1-0 win over Cincinnati in 10 innings.

Canseco watch on hold

Rain in Chicago yesterday postponed Jose Canseco's chase for the April home run record of set 13 set by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1997.

The time off gave Canseco plenty of time to talk to reporters and show a high level of maturity that just wasn't there when he was a brash young superstar.

What's wrong with Urbina?

Closer Ugueth Urbina is killing the Expos lately.

Last night, he thew a wild pitch in the 10th inning of a tie game that allowed Stan Javier to score and give the Giants a 3-2 win. The Giants improved their NL-best record to 14-7.

Urbina, who recorded 34 saves last season, has a blown save and two losses in the Expos' last four games.

Yanks bail out Rocket

Against the Rangers last night, Roger Clemens allowed five runs in two innings before leaving because of a stiff hamstring. Despite the poor outing, he still has a shot at the AL record for consecutive winning decisions because the Yanks came back to win the game 7-6.

Clemens says the hamstring has been bothering him off and on lately, which might be the reason we haven't seen his usual dominating stuff.

"Before long, I feel we'll be seeing the Clemens we all know," New York manager Don Zimmer said. "I'm not concerned. He'll get it together and win a lot of games for us."

Indians find their ace?

If you're the Indians and you're searching for an ace pitcher, it's quite a step down from Schilling and Kevin Appier to ... Hideo Nomo?

The former star who has been released twice this season worked out for about 15 minutes for Indians manager Mike Hargrove and pitching coach Phil Regan before yesterday's game. Nomo will pitch in a simulated game Thursday.

Unless Nomo can shapeshift into Schilling himself, what possible good does this tryout serve for Cleveland?

>Notes

• Houston placed shortstop Ricky Gutierrez on the 15-day disabled list after he suffered a broken left hand on Tuesday night. Gutierrez was injured in the fourth inning when he was hit by a pitch by Arizona starter Armando Reynoso. He is expected to miss four to six weeks.
• In his second start of the season, the Reds' Denny Neagle allowed no earned runs in six innings last night against the Phillies.
• The Braves announced the first four members of their new Hall of Fame at Turner Field. Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Phil Niekro and Warren Spahn will be inducted at a ceremony Aug. 20.
• Ryan Klesko made his first start since April 14, when he injured his right hamstring. He went 0-for-2 with a walk before Brian Hunter replaced him in the seventh inning of the Braves' 5-3 loss to the Pirates.
• Opposing baserunners were 18-for-18 off Brewers catchers until David Nilsson threw out Eric Young trying to steal second in the eighth.
• The Marlins' two best players, Alex Fernandez and Cliff Floyd, returned Tuesday night and led Florida to an 8-0 win over Chicago. The Marlins took a 34-33 lead in the all-time series vs. the Cubs.

Indians 8, Athletics 5

Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer, giving him 28 RBI in April, and the Cleveland Indians defeated the Oakland Athletics 8-5 Tuesday night. A's pitcher Tom Candiotti left the game with two outs in the first inning because of swelling in his left knee, the same knee that gave him trouble in spring training.

Blue Jays 10, Angels 1

Pat Hentgen's teammates presented him with a four-run lead before he took the mound, and the Toronto Blue Jays' struggling right-hander rewarded them with seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a blowout of the Angels.

Tigers 5, Mariners 1

Justin Thompson held Seattle's "Big Three" hitless in seven at-bats as he won his third straight decision in the Tigers' 5-1 victory over the Mariners. Thompson (3-2) allowed one run and seven hits in six innings, as Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner dropped to a combined 4-for-45 (.089) against the left-hander.

Chicago Cubs -- Placed pitcher Matt Karchner on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 26, with a strained right groin; activated pitcher Kurt Miller from the disabled list.

Florida Marlins -- Activated outfielder Cliff Floyd and pitcher Alex Fernandez from the 15-day disabled list; optioned outfielder Tim Hyers to Calgary of the Pacific Coast League (AAA); re-assigned pitcher Chris Clark from Portland of the Eastern League (AA) to Brevard County of the Florida State League (A); pitcher Geoff Duncan from Calgary of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) to Portland; pitcher Robert Garvin to extended spring training; and outfielder Brian Reed from extended spring training to Brevard County.

Houston Astros -- Placed shortstop Ricky Gutierrez on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left hand; recalled infielder Russ Johnson from New Orleans of the Pacific Coast League (AAA).

Montreal Expos -- Activated pitcher Steve Kline from the 15-day disabled list.

Seattle Mariners -- Acquired infielder Rafael Bournigal from the Texas Rangers for cash; activated pitcher Mark Leiter off the 15-day disabled list; sent pitcher Melvin Bunch and shortstop Giomar Guevara to Tacoma.

Toronto Blue Jays -- Recalled pitcher Steve Sinclair from Syracuse of the International League (AAA); optioned outfielder Anthony Sanders to Syracuse.