Perez Latest Dodger to Get His Bell Rung in the Desert

PHOENIX —  The Dodgers hoped to build on their strong opening week with a successful first trip.

After three games in Arizona, they’re still hoping.

The Dodgers lost their third in a row against the Diamondbacks, 6-2, Wednesday night at Bank One Ballpark.

Dodger starter Carlos Perez (0-2) couldn’t hold a 2-0 lead through four innings, getting tagged for 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings. Arizona second baseman Jay Bell continued to torment the Dodgers, hitting his third home run against them in less than 24 hours--and fourth in the series--to support the strong pitching of Omar Daal (1-0), who tossed seven effective innings.

Bell’s major league-leading five homers have come against the Dodgers. Four have come in his last 11 at-bats.

Arizona scored four runs in the seventh against Perez to take command before a crowd of 30,561--the smallest in the franchise’s two-year history. The Diamondbacks didn’t seem weary after their 7-6, 16-inning victory that began Tuesday night and ended 19 minutes after midnight Wednesday.

But the Dodgers have been sleepwalking since they arrived in the desert.

After pitching well for six innings, Perez ran out of gas in the seventh. He gave up five hits in the inning--including two doubles and a triple.

Overall, Perez gave up six earned runs, increasing his earned-run average from 5.14 to 6.59. He only threw 88 pitches, 57 for strikes.

His performance was similar to his first start in a 4-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies last Thursday.

Perez faced the minimum through the first six innings in that game, but he gave up four runs in the seventh. For Manager Davey Johnson, the games were disturbingly similar.

“Carlos pitched great, but the same thing happened,” Johnson said. “He got up to the high 70s [in pitches], then all of a sudden, boom. The two times out, [Perez’s pitches] got up and outside in the seventh, and then they just start wailing on him.

“I’m kicking myself right now because that’s my fault. I should have pulled him, so I’ll take the blame for this one.”

But the Dodger relievers needed a rest after the 5-hour 14-minute marathon the day before. Didn’t they?

“Tired bullpen or not, I’ve got to get him some help if he needs it,” Johnson said. “Again, I’ve got to read him better. I’m on a learning curve, and I’m not too happy with myself right now. What I’m saying is that it isn’t going to happen again.”

On a positive note for the Dodgers, Devon White finally got going against his former club with a two-run single in the fourth, staking Perez to a 2-0 lead. On second thought, that was the Dodgers’ only positive note, as they had only four hits.

Mark Grudzielanek singled to lead off the fourth against Daal, who walked Gary Sheffield and Raul Mondesi to load the bases with none out. Eric Karros struck out swinging, giving White an opportunity to contribute offensively after going hitless in his first 13 at-bats in the series.

White came through, driving in Grudzielanek and Sheffield with a single to center. It was a moment White had been hoping for since the series began.

White didn’t leave on the best terms with Diamondback officials, and he acknowledged returning to Arizona was emotional for him.

“I played here last year, and there are definitely some [emotions] coming back,” said White, whose off-season home in Arizona is about a 20-minute drive from Bank One Ballpark. “There are still a few guys, guys like Matt Williams and Travis Lee, who were in the lineup with me, and those are the guys I know real well.

“I had a good time playing here, I live here and I didn’t want to leave, but the organization didn’t want to sign me. I said my peace about that, and now it’s all water under the bridge. Now, it’s all about business and trying to win the games.”

White and the Dodgers are still trying to win one here.