Perez Keeps Ball Rolling

The Atlanta Braves can only hope history does not judge them poorly for trading Odalis Perez to the Dodgers.

The present certainly isn’t shaping up well for them.

The young left-hander showed the Braves what they’re missing Wednesday night in another masterful performance, dominating his former club in a 3-1 victory to help the Dodgers take the first two games of a three-game series.

Perez (4-1) made a triumphant return to Turner Field a night after left fielder Brian Jordan--traded with Perez for Gary Sheffield in January--hit two home runs in a 6-5, 16-inning victory.

He gave up five hits and the one run in eight innings while earning his fourth consecutive victory, frustrating the Braves and a crowd of 22,163 after overcoming uncharacteristic control problems in the first inning. Atlanta starter Kevin Millwood (2-4) pitched seven solid innings, but he needed to be much better with his former teammate on a roll.

The Braves were impressed--Sheffield in particular.

“The only differences I see are that he uses his fastball more, and he uses it inside more,” the former Dodger said. “I think that when he was here, [management] wanted him to pitch away more like Tom Glavine. As good of a changeup as he has, it just makes his fastball even more effective.”

Perez continued his impressive streak in the place his career began, prompting some to wonder: Do the Braves already rue the day they let Perez get away?

“I won’t answer that question,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “We’re very happy to have him, obviously, and we’re also very happy to have our left fielder, but they got a hell of a baseball player from us too.”

Admittedly eager to face his first team, Perez walked two in the first before regaining his composure with the help of pitching coach Jim Colborn and catcher Paul Lo Duca. Perez set the tone from that point with pinpoint accuracy, controlling both sides of the plate and the Braves in the process.

Closer Eric Gagne also had a good night, rebounding from his first blown save Tuesday by blowing away the Braves in the ninth. Gagne struck out the side for his 11th save in 12 chances, getting Wes Helms for the Dodgers’ fifth consecutive road victory.

The Dodgers, who lead the league in hitting into double plays, hit into three more Wednesday, including two by Shawn Green. However, Green also increased the Dodgers’ 1-0 lead to 3-0 in the fifth with a two-out, two-run, bases-loaded single.

Mark Grudzielanek staked Perez to a lead in the second, extending his season-high hitting streak to seven games, and Perez and Gagne gave the tired bullpen a break after Tracy used six pitchers in Tuesday’s 5-hour 19-minute game. Of course, it all started with Perez, and that’s a familiar theme these days.

“The kid has been unbelievable,” Lo Duca said. “Realistically, he could be [7-0]. He’s thrown well every start, he should have had a perfect game and you can’t say enough about him--especially today. After a 16-inning game, for him to go eight innings and give our bullpen a rest makes it even better.

“The first inning, he was a little excited. He was too pumped up because he’s throwing against his former team and he wants to show them what they’re missing. He settled down after he got through that inning. He’s been phenomenal all year and he’s only 23. Incredible.”

Perez, who threw 62 strikes in 96 pitches, had only three walks in 461/3 innings spanning his first six starts. He doubled his total Wednesday and knew the reason.

“I threw the way I’ve been pitching since the beginning of the season, my approach was the same, but I was excited to be facing my ex-team in the first inning,” he said. “But after that I was OK.”

That’s as far as Perez would go about his first encounter with the Braves, preferring to take the high road.

“I can’t say nothing bad about the Braves,” he said. “They’re a great team and they gave me the opportunity to be in the big leagues. I’m comfortable [with the Dodgers] and I just want to keep doing what I’m doing.”

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*--* Tricks of Trade The Dodgers traded Gary Sheffield to Atlanta this winter for Brian Jordan and Odalis Perez. How the players involved are faring this season: Player AB H HR RBI SO AVG Sheffield 97 22 4 11 12 227 Jordan 116 31 5 15 17 267

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*--* Pitcher IP H BB SO W-L ERA Perez 541/3 30 6 35 4-1 1.66 NOTE: Dodgers also acquired minor league pitcher Andy Brown, who is with class-A Vero Beach

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