Ex-Expos Get Different Receptions in First Series Back in Montreal

Dodger pitcher Carlos Perez received a standing ovation when he was removed in the sixth inning of a 9-0 loss to the Montreal Expos.

The Olympic Stadium crowd was expressing its appreciation for Perez’s performance during his four seasons in Montreal, and that display comforted him after a disappointing performance.

“The fans here have always been very good to me,” said Perez, who tipped his cap to the crowd as he walked into the dugout.

“It was hard to pitch against my former team, and this was not the game I wanted. But the fans made me feel very good.”

Perez gave up eight hits--two of them home runs--and was charged with seven runs in five-plus innings. Manager Glenn Hoffman pulled him with none out in the sixth after he gave up consecutive singles and threw a wild pitch.

The left-hander was making his first appearance against the Expos since he and shortstop Mark Grudzielanek were traded to the Dodgers in a seven-player deal July 31. In his Dodger debut the next day, Perez pitched seven scoreless innings against the New York Mets in a 2-1 loss.

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Grudzielanek wasn’t embraced.

He was booed throughout the series, presumably because fans were upset about his critical comments regarding the organization’s cost cutting. Grudzielanek went two for 13 in the three games.

“I guess I expected it a little,” Grudzielanek said. “But I don’t have anything against the fans. My problems were with the organization.”

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Pitcher Manuel Barrios was designated for assignment to make room on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.

Barrios was among the five players acquired from the Florida Marlins in the seven-player Mike Piazza trade May 15. The right-hander was recalled from triple-A Albuquerque on June 28 and pitched a scoreless inning in his only appearance before being optioned to Albuquerque on July 4.

Barrios was 1-3 with a 6.00 earned-run average in 20 games for the Dukes.

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The National League office is expected to announce a ruling today on a protest filed by the Mets last week during a series against the Dodgers. New York charged the Dodgers with a roster violation.

On Deck

* Opponent--Pittsburgh Pirates, three games.

* Site--Dodger Stadium.

* Tonight--7.

* TV--Channel 5 tonight and Saturday.

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

* Records--Dodgers 58-57, Pirates 51-64.

* Record vs. Pirates--5-2.

* Tickets--(213) 224-1568.

DODGERS’ BRIAN BOHANON (4-7, 2.93 ERA) vs. PIRATES’ TODD VAN POPPEL (1-0, 3.72 ERA)

* Update--This is the opener of a nine-game home stand against Pittsburgh, Florida and Atlanta. The Dodgers and Pirates had a bench-clearing brawl in their last meeting, June 28. An argument between Pittsburgh catcher Jason Kendall and Dodger right fielder Gary Sheffield ignited the altercation during the sixth inning of the Pirates’ 6-4 victory. Kendall and Sheffield served three-game suspensions for their roles in the wrestling match. Sheffield completed his suspension Thursday. Bohanon lost to the New York Mets in his most recent start last Sunday, 9-3. The Dodgers committed two errors that helped New York score five unearned runs. Van Poppel is scheduled to start for the fourth time with Pittsburgh since being acquired from the Texas Rangers in a three-player trade July 17.

* Saturday, 7:30 p.m.--Dave Mlicki (6-5, 5.15) vs. Jon Lieber (8-12, 3.87).

* Sunday, 5 p.m.--Chan Ho Park (10-5, 3.96) vs. Chris Peters (5-8, 3.80).