Perez Regains the Upper Hand on Hitters

It seemed the hitters had caught up to Odalis Perez in his previous three starts, when the Dodger left-hander who was so effective in his first nine games began to look more ordinary than extraordinary.

But Perez, who in those three games gave up nine earned runs and 25 hits in 17 innings, got his groove back Sunday, shutting down the Baltimore Orioles during an eight-inning, 98-pitch gem in which he allowed one run and four hits, struck out 10 and walked one to improve to 6-3.

Perez, who came within one bad-hop single of throwing a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on April 26, faced 26 batters, two over the minimum, and was backed by superb defense up the middle, as shortstop Alex Cora and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek turned three double plays.

The Orioles scored their only run in the third, when Marty Cordova doubled and Brook Fordyce singled to left. Perez faced only three batters in seven of eight innings and capped his performance by striking out Tony Batista, Cordova and Fordyce in the eighth.

“He had a much more effective changeup and did a real good job of setting it up by pitching inside effectively,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “He threw some phenomenal changeups today.”

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First baseman Eric Karros has five home runs in the Dodgers’ first 62 games, a 13-homer pace that is far off the 30-homer seasons he put up five times between 1995 and 2000, but production hasn’t been a problem.

Karros is batting .308 and ranks second on the team with 32 runs batted in despite his transition from slugger to contact hitter. Karros has cut down on his swing and is hitting more balls to the opposite field, an approach that has resulted in only 26 strikeouts, a 70-strikeout pace that would be a career low.

He’s batting .339 with runners in scoring position and .297 with two strikes. He’s also hitting .500 (nine for 18) with three doubles, a homer and six RBIs when the game is close and late--within two runs in the seventh inning or later.

“His at-bats in critical situations have been exceptional,” Tracy said. “That line drive with the bases loaded is just as pretty as the ball hit halfway up the seats.”

Karros has recovered from chronic back problems that hampered him in 2001, when he hit a career-low .235 with 15 homers and 63 RBIs. But does he still have the power to hit 30 home runs in a season?

“I don’t know if he does or not, but I don’t know if it’s necessary,” Tracy said. “If he hits less than 30 homers but there’s a lot of quality at-bats in between, I’ll take that.”

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The fluid-filled bumps on the back of Grudzielanek’s right hand, which had to be drained in May, have returned, and the second baseman may need them drained again this week. The condition, probably caused by a minor tendon tear, bothers the second baseman when he’s hitting.... Eric Gagne, who recorded his 21st save Sunday, has 44 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.

ON DECK

Opponent--Tampa Bay Devil Rays, three games.

Site--Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tonight--4:15 PDT.

TV--None.

Radio--KXTA (1150), KWKW (1330).

Records--Dodgers 37-25, Devil Rays 20-41.

Record vs. Devil Rays--First meeting.

TODAY

DODGERS’

HIDEO NOMO

(5-5)

vs.

DEVIL RAYS’

WILSON ALVAREZ

(1-1, 5.12 ERA)

Update--After a three-game series in one of baseball’s most picturesque settings, Baltimore’s Camden Yards, the Dodgers will experience the opposite end of the stadium spectrum--the dreary, catwalk-filled, artificial turf-covered dome that the Devil Rays call home. Tampa Bay is the worst team in baseball, an offensively impaired club with an American League-low .236 average, and anything less than a sweep for the Dodgers should be considered a disappointment.

Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.--Omar Daal (4-2, 2.72) vs. Joe Kennedy (3-5, 4.42).

Wednesday, 4:15 p.m.--Andy Ashby (5-5, 3.00) vs. Ryan Rupe (5-7, 5.18).