Another Slamming for Bullpen

Call it Carlitos’ Way.

Never one to do things the easy way, Carlos Perez, who’s known in the Dodger clubhouse as Carlitos, a Spanish derivative of his first name, let a three-run first-inning lead disappear in less than two innings Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Taking a cue from their eccentric starter, the Dodger bullpen blew a three-run, eighth-inning lead, then couldn’t hold on to a one-run lead in the 12th.

The result was an 11-7 Dodger loss in 12 innings to the first-place Diamondbacks, who won their sixth straight game in front of 32,326 at Bank One Ballpark.

It ruined a quality outing for Perez, who went seven innings and gave up three runs on six hits while striking out two and not walking a batter.

“That was a surprise to me,” Perez said of being removed for a pinch hitter in the eighth. “I don’t really know what happened. I thought I was going to be in there to throw another inning because I didn’t throw a lot of pitches.

“I knew in the bottom of the eighth there would be a lot of lefty batters. I didn’t throw that many pitches but he’s the manager. I don’t want to complain. It’s his decision but I was a little surprised.”

After reliever Antonio Osuna held Arizona at bay in the 10th and 11th innings, Orel Hershiser came in to try to earn his first save since the 1988 National League championship series.

But he gave up a game-tying sacrifice fly to Steve Finley with the bases loaded and none out. Damian Miller then won the game for Arizona when he hit his third career grand slam, a 397-foot shot to left on a 2-1 pitch.

Vicente Padilla picked up his first career win, despite giving up a run in the 12th, while Hershiser suffered the loss.

“It’s more difficult than I thought,” Hershiser said of closing. “Most of the time, I come in in relief after I throw 170 innings as a starter and then I go into the bullpen late in the season for the playoffs. Maybe I’ve underestimated how tough it is to get your rhythm without those innings. It’s just not a thing that’s been an easy adjustment, at least statistically.”

Dodger Manager Davey Johnson agreed.

“I had lot of confidence in bringing him in,” he said. “It’s frustrating for him because he doesn’t have everything working for him. Orel needs to start to get a little bit of a rhythm and to locate better.”

The Dodgers went ahead in the top of the 12th when Todd Hollandsworth’s fielder’s choice brought in Alex Cora, who had a career-best three hits.

Dodger set-up man Terry Adams gave up two runs in the eighth and closer Jeff Shaw blew the save when he allowed the tying run to score in the ninth.

Adams, upon replacing Perez, promptly gave up consecutive singles before walking pinch-hitter Erubiel Durazo to load the bases with one out for Finley, who was hitless at that point.

Finley, who entered the game tied with Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire for the National League home run lead with 12, hit Adams’ first pitch to right for a two-run single.

Travis Lee then hit a one-bouncer to short, where Cora, on his heels, flipped to Mark Grudzielanek at second. Lee seemed to beat the relay to Eric Karros by half a step but first base umpire Doug Eddings saw it differently, calling Lee out to end the inning.

Enter Shaw, who has converted seven of 11 save opportunities.

After giving up a one-out double down the right-field line to Danny Klassen, Shaw had a pitch pop out of catcher Todd Hundley’s glove, allowing Klassen to reach third.

Pinch-hitter Andy Fox’s flare to left tied the game.

The game’s histrionics allowed Diamondback starter Armando Reynoso to escape unscathed.

Reynoso, who had never lost to the Dodgers in nine career appearances, gave up six runs on seven hits while walking four in 4 1/3 innings and was primed to drop his first decision to the Dodgers.

Hollandsworth got it going against Reynoso. He led the game off with a 405-foot blast to the seats down the right-field line, driving Reynoso’s full-count pitch for his fourth career lead-off home run. It was also his fourth homer of the season.

Two batters later, Gary Sheffield took a 1-1 Reynoso pitch down the left-field line for a 398-foot ride, his 11th homer of the year.