Dodgers Still Can’t Get Jump-Start From Perez

Starting pitching typically has been the Dodgers’ foundation, and great things are expected from this season’s starters.

Of course, expectations often change.

The Dodgers might be forced to revise their thinking after another poor performance by a starter Tuesday night in an 11-3 loss to the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium.

Carlos Perez (1-5) lasted only 3 1/3 innings in another horrible outing, making the biggest contribution to the Astros’ rout before a crowd of 27,067.

The struggling left-hander--who signed a three-year, $15.5-million contract in the off-season--continued his unimpressive performance this season, failing to work at least five innings for the third time in seven starts.

Perez’s ineffective effort overshadowed another home run by Raul Mondesi, who hit his National League-leading 14th--a three-run blast--in the sixth to cut the Astros’ lead to 6-3.

But the bad news again outweighed the good for the Dodgers, and pitching unexpectedly remains the problem.

“If you would have asked me what I would be worried about in the middle of May, and you said it would be the starters not giving me enough innings, I would have said you’re crazy,” Manager Davey Johnson said. “This team was built on starting pitching, and we’re not getting the pitching we thought we would be right now. It’s as simple as that.”

Perez is the main culprit.

On Tuesday, he gave up five hits--including two home runs--and six runs (four earned). Perez walked three and struck out three while throwing only 35 strikes in 60 pitches, struggling with his command.

His earned-run average increased from 6.23 to 6.63.

“Carlos wasn’t real sharp,” Johnson said. “He’s just not in much of a groove right now.”

Said catcher Todd Hundley: “Early in the game, we were going down and in on them with fastballs. And the second time through the order they caught on to what we were doing. From there, they were just waiting on the soft stuff.”

The Dodgers (20-18) dropped their third in a row in losing the opener of the three-game series to NL Central-leading Houston (24-13).

Not surprisingly, Dodger starters have failed to pitch more than 5 1/3 innings during the last three games.

“We know with the type of starters we have, they’re capable of carrying the ballclub for a long stretch,” said left fielder Gary Sheffield, who singled twice in four at-bats. “These guys have all had a lot of success in the major leagues, and they’re going to do the job.

“But right now, some of them are struggling a little bit. That’s going to happen sometimes.”

The Dodger bullpen hasn’t been outstanding either during this recent rocky stretch, adding to Johnson’s problems.

Rookie reliever Jamie Arnold continued that negative trend by getting pounded for six hits and five runs (four earned) in the eighth as the Astros broke the game open, taking an 11-3 lead.

Right-hander Jose Lima (7-1) pitched seven strong innings and benefited from his teammates’ consistently strong support. Lima also did his job at the plate, driving in Houston’s first run in the second with a run-scoring single against Perez.

Perez remained in the game long enough after Lima’s hit to do more damage to the Dodgers’ chances and his ERA.

He gave up two home runs in the third as the Astros took a 4-0 lead. Jeff Bagwell slugged his 11th, a solo shot, with one out, and Tony Eusebio hit a two-out, two-run homer for his first of the season.

The ball Eusebio hit traveled approximately 435 feet, landing more than halfway up the left-field pavilion. That marked the 10th homer Perez has given up in 38 innings.

Johnson removed Perez with one out in the fourth after he walked Craig Biggio, stirring mock applause from the frustrated crowd.

“The one [homer] Bagwell hit looked like it was right down the middle, and the same thing with the catcher [Eusebio],” Johnson said. “That’s an area you should stay out of. He just needs to do better with his pitch selection and his location right now.”

On the Dodger staff, Perez is not alone.