[0] OFFENSIVE OUTAGE DISRUPTS DODGERS : N.Y. METS 3, DODGERS 1.

Byline: Kevin Acee Daily News Staff Writer

The Dodgers were reminded what Pedro Astacio was like as a starter the first month and a half of this season. Astacio, in turn, was reminded what it was like to be a starting pitcher for the Dodgers the first two months of this season.

For eight innings Thursday night, Astacio did what he had to do just to have a chance - pitch brilliantly. It was an unrewarding but not unfamiliar experience.

The New York Mets scored three runs off reliever Mark Guthrie in the ninth inning and got an even better pitching performance to beat the Dodgers 3-1 in front of a sellout crowd of 53,655 at Dodger Stadium.

``We tried to get runs for him,'' Dodgers third baseman Todd Zeile said. ``It was just a lousy performance by the offense.''

For the second straight night, the Dodgers offense resembled the one that stumbled through April and May averaging 3-1/2 runs a game. After scoring at least five runs in all but five of the previous 21 games, the Dodgers have totaled two runs the past two games.

Rick Reed (8-4) won his fourth straight game by allowing three hits and walking three in eight innings. John Franco allowed the Dodgers their only run and their fourth hit on Wilton Guerrero's leadoff home run in the ninth, but he finished the game for his 27th save.

Manager Bill Russell never used Mike Piazza to pinch hit. Piazza did not start for the fourth straight day due to his strained left hamstring, and Russell said before the game he might use him to hit. In a sign Piazza might not be ready to start tonight, the Dodgers recalled Triple-A catcher Henry Blanco and sent down pitcher Dennis Reyes.

The Mets, who won 2-1 on Wednesday and took two of three in the series, immediately jumped on Guthrie. John Olerud and Todd Hundley singled to start the ninth. Rey Ordonez, pinch-running for Olerud, and Hundley moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Edgardo Alfonzo. A sacrifice fly by Carl Everett scored Ordonez, and Carlos Baerga singled to right to drive in Hundley. Darren Hall relieved Guthrie (1-3) and intentionally walked pinch-hitter Matt Franco before Luis Lopez, pinch-hitting for Reed, drove in Baerga.

Two things kept the Dodgers from dwelling too hard - at least for now - on the sudden offensive nap.

First, Astacio is back. Second, the Giants lost, meaning the Dodgers did not lose ground, and remain four games out.

After a forgettable month and a half, in which he was 0-7 with a 5.51 ERA, Astacio's ERA his past five starts is 2.97. He is 3-0 in that span.

He followed up his 7-1/3 innings of three-hit ball Saturday in Atlanta with Thursday's craftiness for his best two-start string of the season.

Astacio, who began the season 3-0 before not winning in 10 starts between May 13 and June 24, no-hit the Mets for seven innings the last time he faced them, April 16 at Shea Stadium. He was lifted in that game after Baerga doubled down the right-field line to open the eighth inning.

Eric Anthony pinch hit in the eighth inning for Astacio, who had thrown 114 pitches.

Baerga did not touch Astacio on Thursday. And while other Mets got hits, seemingly placing Astacio in peril every inning, he scattered six hits, struck out eight and did not walk anyone.

Lance Johnson and Bernard Gilkey opened the game with successive singles, giving the Mets runners at first and third with none out. Astacio stranded them by getting three straight outs.

Astacio stranded Johnson at third again in the third inning and left Alfonzo there in the fourth. Despite leadoff singles in the sixth and seventh, the Mets did not get anyone even to second base until they were rid of Astacio.

The Dodgers threatened even less.

Brett Butler singled to lead off the bottom of the first but was left at second base.

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Photo

PHOTO (color) Pedro Astacio pitched eight shutout innings for the Dodgers, but it was to no avail, as L.A. fell 3-1 to New York in the ninth.

David R. Crane / Daily News