Perez’s Struggles Stir Concern

Club officials are concerned about left-hander Carlos Perez, who has pitched poorly in three of five starts since he was acquired from the Montreal Expos on July 31.

Perez dropped to 0-3 with a 6.35 earned-run average with the Dodgers after giving up nine runs--eight earned--in 3 1/3 innings during a 12-7 loss to the Braves on Sunday. He struggled with his control and players said Perez’s pitches lacked movement.

Perez says his arm feels fine, but the Dodgers acknowledge something is wrong.

“Perez is a proven pitcher, and you don’t expect this from him,� Manager Glenn Hoffman said. “He’s been making some mistakes in the [strike] zone, and he’s really been struggling with his control.�

Hoffman had planned to use a six-man rotation when right-hander Ismael Valdes is activated from the disabled list, but he’s now considering moving Perez to the bullpen. Perez might retain his spot because Valdes suffered a cut on the index finger of his throwing hand, which might further delay his return.

“We’ve got to see what happens with Valdes before we do anything,� Hoffman said. “We don’t know how bad he is, and that’s going to be a factor [in Perez’s situation].�

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Atlanta first baseman Andres Galarraga doesn’t believe he should be suspended for his role in Saturday’s bench-clearing brawl.

Galarraga charged the mound after he was hit by a pitch by Dodger right-hander Darren Dreifort in the second inning of the Braves’ 7-5 victory, which started a wrestling match between the teams.

“I’ve been hit 22 times, that’s too much,� Galarraga said. “That’s too many times to be nice, too many times to be patient.�

National League President Leonard Coleman will review a tape of the incident before deciding on disciplinary action.

*

Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox continued to take shots at Dreifort, who he believes threw at Galarraga intentionally.

Dreifort was forced to leave the game because he suffered cuts on his throwing elbow while rolling on the mound with Galarraga.

“We’d like to have hit the pitcher, and Dreifort didn’t come back out to hit,� Cox told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We were gonna stick him one pretty good.�

*

Eric Karros had 10 total bases against Greg Maddux in the Braves’ victory Sunday, the most the four-time Cy Young Award winner has given up to one batter in a game. Karros homered twice and doubled.

ON DECK

* Opponent--Montreal Expos, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7

* TV--Fox Sports West 2 today, Wednesday; Channel 5 Thursday.

* Radio--AM 1150, KWKW (1330).

* Records--Dodgers 64-67, Expos 51-81.

* Record vs. Expos--2-4.

* Tickets--(213) 224-1HIT.

TONIGHT

DODGERS’ DAVE MLICKI (6-6, 4.81 ERA) vs. EXPOS’ MIKE THURMAN (2-2, 4.55 ERA)

* Update--This marks infielder Wilton Guerrero’s first game at Dodger Stadium since he was traded with three minor leaguers to the Expos for shortstop Mark Grudzielanek, pitcher Carlos Perez and a minor leaguer on July 31. Guerrero is starting at second base for the Expos and batting .268. He has been reunited with his younger brother, Vladimir, who is considered among the game’s rising stars. Vladimir, 23, is fifth in the National League with a .330 batting average and tied for seventh with 31 home runs. He also leads the Expos with 94 runs batted in. Montreal swept the Dodgers in a three-game series at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 4-6.

Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (11-7, 3.90) vs. Carl Pavano (4-6, 4.44).

Thursday, 7 p.m.--Darren Dreifort (6-12, 3.76) vs. Jeremy Powell (1-4, 6.95).