BELTRE FLEXES HIS MUSCLES THIRD BASEMAN SPARKS RALLY WITH CAREER-HIGH 5 HITS IN DODGERS WIN DODGERS 4, N.Y. METS 2.

Byline: Tony Jackson  Staff Writer

NEW YORK - As Adrian Beltre dressed in the Dodgers clubhouse after Saturday's 4-2 victory over the New York Mets, someone who obviously had conned his way into a press credential approached the third baseman, commented on the size of Beltre's muscles and asked if he could touch one of his biceps. Lack of media professionalism aside, that granite physique has been quite useful for the rejuvenated Beltre this season.

It takes brute strength, after all, to carry an entire team on one's back.

This time, Beltre managed to outdo himself, posting a career-high five hits that included his 42nd home run of the season. He also started a game- winning, two-run rally with a one-out single in the eighth, then drove in a critical insurance run with another single in the ninth, giving closer Eric Gagne more breathing room in his successful attempt to post his first save in almost two weeks.

And, as usual, Beltre played the role of reliable centerpiece to an offensive attack that doesn't exactly strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers. In fact, the Dodgers' other two runs were driven in by pinch hitters Olmedo Saenz and Jose Hernandez, saving the team on an afternoon when Steve Finley, Milton Bradley, Shawn Green and Hee-Seop Choi - the two hitters on either side of Beltre in the lineup - went a combined 1 for 17.

In the end, none of that mattered. In front of 40,660 on a suffocatingly- humid day at Shea Stadium, the Dodgers, bolstered by Beltre and the solid-if-unspectacular performance of Odalis Perez, found a way to rebound from Friday's ugly 9-2 loss to the Mets.

``(Beltre) is amazing,'' said a grateful Perez, who was saved from yet another hard-luck loss and was left with no decision after allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. ``Every at-bat he has is a good at-bat. He knows how to put the ball in play, and if he hits it, you know it's going somewhere.''

With the Mets leading 1-0 in the third, it went over the left-field wall, tying the game with two outs. With the Mets leading 2-1 in the eighth, it went to right field, a line single that set the table for a comparatively big inning. Shawn Green followed with the only hit of the day by the aforementioned quartet, a double into the right-field corner.

With Beltre on third, Saenz hit a smash up the middle that easily scored Beltre. Saenz was safe at first when Mets shortstop Wilson Delgado, who had made a nice play just to get to the ball, threw wildly. Saenz, who probably would have been safe anyway, was awarded a single. Hernandez, hitting for Alex Cora, then blooped a single just in front of center fielder Mike Cameron to score Green, putting the Dodgers ahead 3-2.

Cesar Izturis led off the ninth by beating out an infield chopper for a single, then with one out, stole second on a play that was so close even televised replays were inconclusive. Mets manager Art Howe argued with base umpire Mark Wegner, but Izturis stayed put, then took third on Bradley's grounder to the right side. Beltre made it 4-2 with his fifth hit.

``This was a tremendous game to win, especially in the fashion we did it,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``Odalis Perez wasn't as sharp as we have seen him on various occasions but this was a very gutsy performance. And what else can you say about our third baseman? I can't even remember the last time he hit a ball softly or the last time you saw him fooled by a pitch.''

Tony Jackson,[phone]

tony.jackson(at)dailynews.com

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