Dodgers Get Even Again, 6-3

Barry Bonds was quiet, again. Odalis Perez spoke up, finally.

And the Dodgers returned to sea level, even as they move to a higher elevation to begin a series in Denver today.

They reached .500 for the third time in five days by defeating the San Francisco Giants, 6-3, Sunday at AT&T; Park in a game in which Perez emerged from the doghouse to pick up a victory in relief, Joe Beimel recorded the first save of his career and a bunt was the pivotal offensive play.

The Dodgers (19-19) have won seven of nine since a five-game losing streak. On the heels of blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning Saturday, they outlasted Giants ace Jason Schmidt and rallied against relievers.

“We felt like we should have come out of here with three wins,” Manager Grady Little said. “That number .500, we’ve been having a little trouble getting over it. We want to play consistent baseball, and we’re starting to do that.”

Seeking any kind of consistency from his bullpen, Little brought in Perez to begin the seventh inning with a 2-1 lead. Jae Seo had held the Giants to one run and three hits, but he had a cracked fingernail on his right index finger. Little didn’t want to push his luck.

“We were very pleased with the way Jae got us through six innings,” Little said. “His road hasn’t been smooth, and we wanted to make sure he got out of there ahead.”

Perez has been rocky as well. That’s why he lost his berth in the rotation when he went on bereavement leave a day after frittering away a six-run lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 2.

He also hadn’t pitched in relief since 2001. All of his 118 appearances as a Dodger had been starts. The Giants tied the score against him on two hits, but the Dodgers answered with three runs in the eighth to make Perez (4-2) the pitcher of record.

Then he went on the record for the first time in several days. His message was clear -- he doesn’t like pitching in relief.

“When you make a lot of money as a starter, it’s not reasonable to make that money throwing one or two innings out of the bullpen,” he said. “It’s not good for any owner.”

Perez, who is owed $21 million through next season, said his unfamiliarity with the bullpen makes it a challenge.

“I have been in the starting rotation so long, it takes me 40 to 45 pitches to get ready before a game, not the 20 or 25 pitches you get as a reliever,” he said. “It’s weird. But if that’s what it takes to get back in the rotation, I’ll do what I have to do.”

Little and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt want him to spend time on his delivery, but Perez doesn’t believe there are any problems.

“Mechanically, there is nothing wrong,” he said.

Does he believe the decision to take him out of the rotation was fair?

“I don’t comment on that,” he said. “As a professional, you have to accept it.”

His chin was in his chest as he slowly walked from the mound after giving up the lead. Soon, though, the Dodgers were celebrating, thanks to a throwing error and some aggressive baserunning.

Steve Kline walked Ramon Martinez to begin the seventh and Rafael Furcal singled, setting up a bunt situation. Kenny Lofton pushed the ball toward Kline, who had time to get Martinez at third. Shortstop Omar Vizquel couldn’t handle the high throw, however, and by the time he retrieved the ball, Martinez had scored easily and Furcal was motoring home all the way from first.

Bonds didn’t back up the play, and Vizquel’s off-balance throw was late.

“I saw the ball in front of me and thought I had a good chance,” Furcal said. “The way Bonds throws, he doesn’t have a chance to get me out on that play, and Vizquel had his back to the plate.”

Maybe Bonds was contemplating going hitless in a series played in front of three consecutive sellout crowds. Seo walked him twice and got him on a comebacker.

Beimel, who retired Bonds twice Friday, got him to pop up to Furcal on the first pitch with one out in the eighth. Ray Durham homered in the ninth, but Beimel had no trouble getting his first save in 183 appearances in his career.