DODGERS NOT PLAYING SNAKE CHARMERS LEADING ARIZONA, WHICH TOOK EIGHT OF NINE AT DODGER STADIUM IN '05.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

The Arizona Diamondbacks didnt have much success in many cities last season -- their 77 victories left them far out of the playoff race -- but they certainly enjoyed their three trips to Los Angeles.

Arizona won eight of nine games at Dodger Stadium last season, a go- figure trend that the Dodgers tried to end Friday night when they hosted Arizona on Friday night for the first time in 2006.

The Dodgers seemed to be on their way, as Odalis Perez pitched six effective innings and J.D. Drew hit a home run to help them to a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning.

Drew led off the sixth and his home run, on a 3-1 pitch by Arizona starter Orlando Hernandez, extended the Dodgers lead to two runs, but the Diamondbacks answered in the seventh when Eric Byrnes single, off reliever Tim Hamulack, scor ed Orlando Hudson from second.

So while the Diamondbacks could feel confident about their past successes at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers had to feel pretty good about handing the ball to Perez.

Thats because not only did Perez enter with a 1.74 ERA in 31 previous innings against Arizona at Dodger Stadium, he was also coming off consecutive strong starts, including Saturdays seven-inning, one-run effort in a victory over San Francisco.

Perez came through, as he went six innings Friday and allowed one run on four hits.

Hernandez seemed headed in the opposite direction. After a solid, season-opening start at Colorados Coors Field, Hernandez lost two consecutive games, and he lasted six innings on Friday and allowed three runs on seven hits.

Early in Fridays game, both teams had something in common: somewhat shaky defense.

The Dodgers struck first against Hernandez with a couple well-placed hits. With one out, Kenny Lofton singled through the left side of the field and stole second. One out later, Jeff Kent hit a sinking line drive to left field. Arizona s Luis Gonzalez had a play, but only trapped the ball, and Lofton scored easily.

The lead didn't last long though. In the top of the second, former Dodger outfielder Shawn Green hit a line drive to right field. J.D. Drew charged the ball and attempted to play it on one hop, but it bounced past him and rolled toward the wall, and Green easily reached third.

Hudson followed with a bouncer to third. Green ran on contact, and Dodgers third baseman Bill Mueller might have had a play at the plate, but threw to first for the out and Green scored for a 1-1 tie.

In the bottom of the second, the Dodgers ran themselves out of a chance to retake the lead. James Loney blooped a one-out single to center, then moved to third when Dioner Navarros blooper barely escaped the reach of Green in right.

Perez then attempted to put down a bunt but failed miserably and Hernandez made the easy catch. Loney had ample time to return to third base, which had been uncovered, but seemed to freeze halfway down the line, and Chad Tracy had time to return to the base, take the throw and double off Loney.

Hernandezs offspeed pitches look like something out of a slow-pitch softball league, but in his first career appearance against the Dodgers, he kept them off balance.

In the fourth, however, Loney got a chance to atone for his baserunning blunder. With two outs, Bill Mueller lined a ground-rule double to right field to bring up Loney. With two strikes, Loney blasted a double to the wall in right-cent er and Mueller scored to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

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CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Dodgers lead-off hitter Rafael Furcal twists to avoid getting hit by a pitch from Arizona's Orlando Hernandez during Friday's game at Dodger Stadium.

(2) Dodgers first baseman James Loney hits a double to drive a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer

(3) Odalis Perez expresses his frustration as the Diamondbacks score a run to tie the contest at 1-1 in the second inning Friday.

Box:

DODGERS vs. ARIZONA

- Heather Gripp