L.A.'S NOMO IS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Chipper Jones went 0 for 3, including two strikeouts, the first time he went head-to-head with Hideo Nomo.

Thursday, he lost out again.Nomo, the Dodgers' phenomenal first-year pitcher from Japan, beat out Atlanta's Jones to earn the National League Rookie of the Year award voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He is the first Japanese-born player to capture the award and is the fourth consecutive Dodger to win it.

"I appreciate the support of all the fans - not just in Los Angeles but all over the nation - that supported me through the year," Nomo said through his interpreter, Michael Okumura.

Nomo spoke to the media from Japan via a conference call.

His credentials for the award were compelling. Nomo finished 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA. He led the NL with 236 strikeouts and limited opposing hitters to a major-league low batting average of .182. He became the first rookie pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 to start the All-Star Game and was the winning pitcher when the Dodgers clinched the NL West on Sept. 30.

Nomo said he is spending his offseason, "practicing."

By winning the award - named after former Dodger Jackie Robinson - for the fourth straight season, the Dodgers tie their own record. Nomo follows teammates Eric Karros, Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi, who won the award from 1992-94, respectively.

"We are very, very proud of Hideo," said Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who at one point during the conference call bellowed that Nomo was "ichibon . . . the best!"

"He had a tough, tough assignment coming over to a league that he knew nothing about," Lasorda said. "And he was in a glass case the entire year - everyone was watching him. This is a real special one for me."

Lasorda was also the manager the last time four Dodgers won the award consecutively. That streak began in 1979 with Rick Sutcliffe, followed by Steve Howe, Fernando Valenzuela and Steve Sax.

Beginning with Robinson in 1947, 15 Dodgers have been Rookie of the Year, more than double the amount of any otherteam.

Dodgers closer Todd Worrell was the last pitcher to be honored with the award. He won it in 1985 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 27-year-old Nomo is the second-oldest player to win. Robinson won it at age 28.

"I just want Hideo to know how happy that we all are for him," Dodgers pitching coach Dave Wallace said. "It was a job well done. We're looking forward to next year."