Piazza’s Return Is Not Pleasant for the Dodgers

Mike Piazza has returned to Chavez Ravine during a difficult time for his former employer.

Then again, when have the Dodgers been happy recently?

The slide that started when Piazza was traded hasn’t stopped, and the former franchise player helped the New York Mets make life worse for the Dodgers in a 5-3 victory Friday night at Dodger Stadium before 47,486.

Piazza hit a towering, two-run home run to left-center in the third inning against Dodger starter Kevin Brown, then added a run-scoring single in the ninth against reliever Antonio Osuna.

The catcher’s 32nd homer staked Met starter Al Leiter to a 3-0 lead, but the Dodgers rallied to tie the score behind left fielder Gary Sheffield.

Sheffield, the only player the Dodgers retained from the May 1998 Piazza trade, had three hits, including his 38th homer.

The Dodgers, though, made too many mistakes against the hot Mets.

They committed three errors, and the go-ahead run in the seventh scored from third after Terry Adams’ pickoff throw to first resulted in a two-base error.

The Mets (73-49) moved within 1 1/2 games of the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East, and the Dodgers (61-59) dropped a season-high eight games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

Brown pitched six innings after getting pounded in his last outing, but the right-hander is winless in his last five starts.

Piazza, who has had at least 100 runs batted in five consecutive seasons, is leading the Mets to the playoffs.

The Dodgers are still going nowhere. Fast.

Piazza was pleased after another successful homecoming.

“It’s always nice to come here and do well,” Piazza said. “It’s still a great field and a great stadium with a lot of friends and fan support.

“That’s still flattering, but I try to come here with a clear mind. Basically, I’ve been trying to keep it simple all year. Fortunately, I came in here relaxed and concentrated on hitting the ball hard.”

Said Met Manager Bobby Valentine: “He’s a special player.”

The Mets went ahead, 4-3, in the seventh after the Dodgers tied the score with three runs in the sixth against Leiter.

Joe McEwing, who entered the game in the sixth, singled to center to start the inning.

With Darryl Hamilton batting, Adams’ errant pickoff throw eluded first baseman Eric Karros and McEwing went to third. Edgardo Alfonzo singled to right and the Mets had regained the lead.

Adams (5-5) gave up two hits and walked two in the inning. He also struggled in three appearances on the previous trip.

Sheffield said the Dodgers must expect more from themselves.

“We can’t even look at the standings anymore,” said Sheffield of the Dodgers, who stranded 12. “Guys have to take it upon themselves now just not to be embarrassed. We have go out there and play with some pride. We have to go out there and play for respect.

“There are some guys who . . . we have to get guys who want to put it on the line every day. It’s not just about one inning, or one game or one week. It’s about doing it every game. It’s about every guy on the roster, 1-25, putting it on the line.

“We’ve tried to address those players and get them to understand that. We’re just going to have to keep trying.”

Sheffield’s leadoff homer got the Dodgers started in the sixth, cutting the Mets’ lead to 3-1.

After Sheffield homered, Karros singled and advanced to third on Shawn Green’s ground-rule double. Karros would have scored from first but the ball hit the synthetic warning track and bounced over the wall.

Adrian Beltre drove in Karros with a single to center, and Green scored on Todd Hundley’s sacrifice fly.

The Mets intentionally walked Kevin Elster, and Jim Leyritz, pinch-hitting for Brown, also walked to load the bases with F.P. Santangelo on deck.

That was it for Leiter.

Valentine brought in right-hander Rick White to make Santangelo, a switch-hitter, bat left-handed.

Santangelo began the game with a .157 average batting right-handed and a .235 average batting left-handed. He struck out swinging and Mark Grudzielanek grounded out to end the inning.

White (2-0) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up the victory.

Armando Benitez finished up for his 32nd save.

Dodger catcher Todd Hundley was ejected in the eighth inning after arguing balls and strikes with umpire Mike Everitt.