A Pass and Fail for the Dodgers

It was seen in some corners as another audition for Carlos Perez to prove his worthiness as a member of the Dodger rotation, seemingly the umpteenth time the enigmatic and eccentric left-hander has had to pass muster this season.

Considering the team he’d be facing Friday night, the Oakland Athletics, had lit him up last year, and that the man most likely to replace him in the rotation, Orel Hershiser, was getting in some work in a minor league game at the same time, it would be a stern test.

Give Perez a passing grade.

All Perez did was throw 4 2/3 innings of no-hit ball before leaving after seven innings with the score tied 1-1. He did not earn a decision in the Dodgers’ 3-1 loss to the Athletics in front of 31,038 at Dodger Stadium in the opener of a three-game interleague series with the American League West Division leaders.

Perez, who has made three straight starts without a decision, gave up one run on three hits. He struck out three and walked two in his 104 pitches, 70 of which were strikes.

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson said it was Perez’s best performance of the season.

“Carlos was pitching such a strong ballgame I wanted to stay with him for at least seven [innings],” Johnson said. “We were in a position to win the game but we just didn’t put the ball in play.

“It was just a shame to waste a great outing by Carlos.”

Perez just shrugged when asked if he felt he proved once and for all he belonged in the rotation.

“I’m just doing my job,” he said. “That’s what I want to do. So far I’ve had a lot of run support, but not today.

“I could be 8-2 or 9-2 [with more breaks], but things just happen,” he added. “I’m just glad to do my job. I want to help my team, stay with the team.”

Oakland starter Tim Hudson, who won his first major league game at the expense of the Dodgers last year, did not figure in the decision, either. He went 6 1/3 innings and gave up a run on four hits while walking four and striking out eight in his 103 pitches, 54 for strikes.

Rather, it was Dodger reliever Antonio Osuna (0-3) who was tagged with the loss after giving up a two-out, two-run homer to Olmedo Saenz in the eighth inning.

Jeff Tam (1-2) picked up his first win of the year for Oakland (33-27) with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, and closer Jason Isringhausen earned his 15th save.

The Dodgers (32-26) fell three games behind the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks, who beat the Angels, 4-1, Friday night in Phoenix.

Mark Grudzielanek got the Dodgers going in the first inning.

He took Hudson the other way on a first-pitch offering for a solo home run that just cleared the right-center fence. It was Grudzielanek’s fourth homer of the year.

Perez was cruising until Oakland shortstop Miguel Tejada doubled into the left-field corner with two out in the fifth to break up Perez’s no-hit bid.

An inning later, Perez gave up his only run.

With two out, he walked Jason Giambi before giving up a flare single to Saenz that landed just in front of Shawn Green in right field.

Ben Grieve followed with a double just inside the right-field line, driving in Giambi.

Perez got out of the jam with a leaping grab of Ramon Hernandez’s comebacker, throwing him out at first.

The Dodgers threatened in the seventh.

Alex Cora led off with a slicing double down the left-field line and Dave Hansen, the hero of Thursday night’s victory over the Houston Astros with a pinch-hit solo homer, pinch-hit for Perez.

Hansen drew a walk before F.P. Santangelo’s sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third with one out.

Athletic Manager Art Howe pulled Hudson, and replaced him with Tam.

Tam struck out Grudzielanek looking and got Gary Sheffield to fly out to center.

Kevin Elster, still getting used to playing third base, committed two errors in the first four innings, neither of which cost the Dodgers.

Perez, who has twice waived his right to refuse a demotion to the minors, could still be sent down before June 25.

Meanwhile, at the Ranch in San Bernardino, Orel Hershiser’s self-imposed minor league stint with the Class-A Stampede continued. His four-plus-inning outing--which encompassed 76 pitches--on three-days’ rest, did not result in a decision.

Hershiser gave up three runs on six hits in the Stampede’s 4-3 win over the Mudville Nine of Stockton, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. He also had three strikeouts, walked two and hit a batter.