Dodgers Might Have Set Peace

The interview process has been frustrating for the Dodgers, who are eager to fill a key bullpen position from within.

They’re now optimistic they’ve found the right man for the job after Yhency Brazoban overpowered the New York Mets in the eighth inning Saturday in a 4-2 victory in front of 40,660 at Shea Stadium.

The rookie right-hander shined in his first appearance in the eighth with the Dodgers leading by a run, 3-2, working a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts while relying on a 96-mph fastball.

“Man!” said starter Odalis Perez, who pitched six innings in a no-decision. “Every time he goes out there, that’s the way he does his job.

“Right now, I think he’s the most confident guy [among] the relievers. He’s the guy who comes in and has the opportunity to just blow people out.

“He just blows them away with a good fastball and a good slider. He deserves to be there in the eighth.”

Adrian Beltre again led the Dodgers on offense with his 42nd home run -- matching the third-highest single-season mark in Los Angeles franchise history -- as part of a career-best five-hit game.

Beltre’s two-out shot in the third provided their first run, and his one-out single in the eighth ignited a two-run rally, helping the Dodgers score twice against the Met bullpen in overcoming a 2-1 deficit.

“What else can you say about our third baseman?” said Manager Jim Tracy, whose team improved to 75-54 -- five games ahead of San Francisco in the National League West -- and 3-3 on a four-city, 13-game, 14-day trip.

“Five hits today and two runs batted in. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen him hit a ball softly. I don’t know the last time I’ve seen him fooled on a pitch.”

Said Beltre: “I’m not thinking about anything. I’m just going up there hacking.”

Pinch-hitters Olmedo Saenz and Jose Hernandez contributed run-scoring singles against left-hander Mike Stanton (2-6), driving in Beltre and Shawn Green, respectively. And Beltre capped the scoring with a two-out, run-scoring single in the ninth, delivering again when Met Manager Art Howe pitched to the NL’s hottest hitter with the Dodgers hoping for an insurance run and Eric Gagne prepared to shut the door.

Gagne retired the Mets (60-68) in order and recorded his 36th save in 38 opportunities. He completed the victory for Giovanni Carrara (4-1), who worked a perfect seventh in relief of Perez.

Perez wasn’t sharp for the second time in as many starts, but the left-hander had a quality outing and kept the Dodgers in the game. The bullpen did the rest on a day Brazoban seized an opportunity.

“We have a combination of Carrara and Brazoban, but I’m not going to sidestep what’s being suggested,” Tracy said. “We’ve sent him out there enough times now. We can become fairly convinced of the fact that 97 mph, with the slider that he has, can be devastating if he locates his pitches.

“He’s fearless and he throws strikes. It’s a nice complement to the guy that pitched the ninth inning.”

Brazoban worked quickly in the eighth.

Wilson Delgado flied out to left, and Vance Wilson and pinch-hitter Eric Valent struck out swinging on 96-mph fastballs. Nine pitches, six strikes and three outs.

“I have a lot of confidence,” Brazoban said as Perez interpreted. “I want to be there every day.”

Said pitching coach Jim Colborn: “He’s chomping at the bit, literally, to get a bigger and more important role. That’s a sign of readiness. The main thing, though, is that his pitching is backing it up.

“He’s been nothing but consistent. He has a good idea of how to pitch and not just throw strikes. He’s been very impressive.”

Gagne was especially impressed.

“He’s a Guillermo Mota in the works,” said Gagne, who has 143 saves in the last two-plus seasons, breaking the record for saves in a three-year period he had shared with Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley.

“Mota was wilder earlier. I think his stuff is pretty much the same, but I think he’s more polished than Mota was at the beginning. Mota took off a year ago, and I think he can be something special like Mota.”

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In Good Company

Comparing candidates for most valuable player in the National League:

*--* Player AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO AVG OB% SLG% Adrian Beltre, 477 90 163 25 42 97 38 70 342 388 658 Dodgers Albert Pujols, 481 109 155 37 39 98 67 41 322 405 642 St. Louis Scott Rolen, St. 448 96 144 29 31 111 60 82 321 411 607 Louis Barry Bonds, San 299 102 108 22 36 82 183 27 361 605 803 Francisco

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