DODGERS ARE PITCHER PERFECT PEREZ, GAGNE SOLID IN VICTORY OVER BRAVES DODGERS 3, ATLANTA 1.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer ATLANTA - The Dodgers burned through six pitchers to win in 16 innings Tuesday night, expending their top two long relievers and thinning their bullpen. Then left-hander Terry Mulholland Mulholland is a 1981 graduate of Laurel Highlands (Pennsylvania) High School. , the safety net in case starter Odalis Perez was roughed up early, experienced back spasms moments before the first pitch and was unavailable. It prompted the Dodgers to send Friday's starter, rookie sensation Kazuhisa Ishii Kazuhisa Ishii (石井一久 Ishii Kazuhisa; born September 9, 1973 in Wakaba-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan) is a Japanese Major League Baseball pitcher. , to the bullpen as backup. It didn't matter, nor was Ishii needed, because Perez continued his masterful outings against his former teammates. Pitching with approximately 40 friends in attendance, Perez gave up one run in eight innings to lead the Dodgers past Atlanta 3-1 Wednesday at Turner Field • • [ . It allowed the Dodgers to release an enormous sigh of relief and also improved their road record to a National League-best 12-5. ``We needed that badly,'' Dodgers pitching coach Jim Colborn
Mulholland will be re-evaluated today, but the club doesn't believe his condition is serious. Not now, anyway. However, with Giovanni Carrara Giovanni Carrara [car-RAH-ra] (born March 4, 1968 in Anzoátegui State, Venezuela) is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who most recently pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Carrara bats and throws right handed. He has established himself as a valuable middle relief man. (five innings) and Omar Daal By now, it's also expected. Perez (4-1) pitched at least eight innings in each of his last five starts and this time a potent Braves lineup figured to be the toughest challenge. Instead, Perez allowed five hits. Though he equaled his season walk total with three, the only run the Braves could muster was Andruw Jones' sacrifice fly to score Chipper Jones Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. (born April 24, 1972, in DeLand, Florida), is an American Major League baseball player. Although initially a shortstop, Chipper has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Atlanta Braves. in the sixth, which pulled Atlanta within 3-1. ``The whole season (the Braves) have seen me pitching and now they know I can go deep into the game,'' said Perez, 23, who was 11-15 with a 5.38 ERA in four seasons with the Braves. ``It's nice to go into the late innings and give a rest to the bullpen because since the beginning of the season they've been doing great. It's nice to come here and pitch a good game. ``I was using my changeup change·up n. Baseball A pitch intended to look like a fastball, which actually approaches the plate at a slow speed, thereby causing the batter to swing prematurely. [Alteration of change-of-pace.] , throwing all my pitches in and out, so maybe now they say, 'Man, this kid really can pitch.' '' So can closer Eric Gagne. He rebounded from his first blown save to strike out the side in a perfect and overpowering ninth inning for his 11th save, but it is the consistency and desire with which Perez is pitching that has the clubhouse abuzz. Perez, the overlooked player in the Gary Sheffield-Brian Jordan trade, saw his ERA drop to 1.66, third-lowest in the National League. The Dodgers have won his last five starts, during which Perez is 4-0 with 1.33 ERA. ``(Perez) is a little more consistent that I expected,'' Colborn said. ``(Reports) were his concentration came and went, but that's a function of maturity and I'd say he's matured some. Courage. Confidence. He's never afraid to challenge a hitter, almost to a fault.'' Dodgers right fielder right fielder n. Baseball The player who defends right field. Noun 1. right fielder - the person who plays right field outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield Shawn Green Shawn David Green (born November 10, 1972, in Des Plaines, Illinois) is a 6' 4" left-handed Major League Baseball player. Green is the starting right fielder for the New York Mets.[1] Green was a 1st round draft pick, and has been a two-time major league All-Star. hit into two double plays with runners on first and third with one out to squash rallies, but his two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth inning gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead and provided Perez with insurance. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Left-hander Odalis Perez allowed just one run by his former team as the Dodgers beat the Braves 3-1. He improved to 4-1 with a 1.66 ERA. John Bazemore/Associated Press |
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