DODGERS NOTEBOOK: ARRAIGNMENT DATE IS SET PEREZ WILL FINISH TRAINING CAMP.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

VERO BEACH, Fla. - Dodgers left-hander Carlos Perez is scheduled to be arraigned after spring training on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Meanwhile, in another incident, minor-league pitcher Billy Davis was arrested 42 minutes earlier than Perez for disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence, police said Monday. He was released on $1,000 bond.

Perez will be arraigned April 18. If convicted, he could be jailed for up to one year and fined a maximum of $1,000. Perez spent eight hours in jail and was released after posting $500 bond.

On the arraignment date, the Dodgers play host to Houston. If Perez pleads not guilty, he wouldn't have to appear at the arraignment, a courthouse spokesperson said.

However, Perez's standing with the major-league club is in jeopardy, not only as a result of this arrest but from his poor pitching. Though he's owed $12.5 million over the next two years, he's coming off a humiliating 2-10 season in which his ERA was 7.43. He has a 14.40 ERA in two spring outings this year.

There's a strong possibility Perez could begin the season with Triple-A Albuquerque. The Dukes host Edmonton on April 18.

``I'd like to see this get resolved before the season starts,'' Dodgers managing partner and CEO Bob Daly said when he learned of the incident Sunday. ``I hope that whatever happens, it can be done prior to us leaving spring training (March 30).''

Perez told police he was drinking shortly before he was arrested, according to a police report released Monday. In addition, arresting officer Charles McFarland wrote, ``Perez had the odor of alcoholic beverages on his breath and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy'' at the time of the arrest. McFarland responded to the call at 11:03 p.m. EST. Perez said he had his last drink after 11 p.m., the report stated.

Perez, 29, was returning from dinner at the Riverside Cafe when he stopped at a traffic light and fell asleep with the car running, police said. A concerned citizen witnessed Perez's maroon BMW sitting idle during a full cycle of lights, police added.

McFarland stated in his report that he ``knocked on the window to get his (Perez) attention with no response. . . . I reached in and shook the driver's shoulder to awaken him. He responded after a few attempts.''

The report also stated Perez didn't understand an initial instruction to turn off his engine. Perez, who refused to submit to a chemical test of his breath, said he had three drinks of Johnnie Walker and Coca-Cola, the report stated.

When administering field sobriety tasks, McFarland wrote, ``as Perez exited the vehicle and walked to the rear, he kept his left hand on the vehicle for support.''

Davis, 23, was arrested after employees of Bombay Louie were shouting he had punched security guards, the report said. It also stated Davis was walking toward the employees with clenched fists when police intervened. Davis swore at the police officer and ``began pulling off his shirt preparing to fight'' before being doused with pepper spray, the report said.

Davis, who had a 46.29 ERA and no decisions in five games for Great Falls of the rookie Pioneer League last season, was indefinitely suspended by the club, Dodgers director of player development Jerry Weinstein said.

--Odds and ends: Friday will be a big day for Perez's future with the Dodgers. He'll start against St. Louis before being relieved by Orel Hershiser. The two are battling for a spot in the starting rotation, and after this outing, manager Davey Johnson said he would go with a five-man starting rotation the rest of the spring. It could leave one of the pitchers throwing in intrasquad and simulated games. . . . Among those expected in the next round of cuts is infielder Adam Riggs, Shawn Gilbert and Jorge Nunez. . . . Catcher Todd Hundley, bothered by back spasms the last three days, is expected back in the lineup tonight. . . . The Albuquerque Dukes, the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate, will move to Portland, Ore. after this season pending approval by the National Association of Professional baseball, the governing body of the minor leagues. The franchise was sold to a Portland-based company. The Dodgers' Player Development Contract with the franchise is up at the end of this season, meaning the Dodgers can negotiate with any Triple-A franchise that is not locked into a Player Development Contract.

DODGERS vs. MONTREAL

--When/Where: 4:05 p.m., Holman Stadium, Vero Beach, Fla.

--Radio: XTRA 1150 AM

Today's game: The Dodgers play a rare one under the lights as right- hander Chan Ho Park looks for his first dominant outing of the spring. Righty Dustin Hermanson starts for Montreal.

Monday's result: Juan Castro's RBI single in the top of the ninth gave the Dodgers their first win in six games, a 5-4 victory over Baltimore in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. It was the Dodgers' second win in 13 spring games. Kevin Elster had two doubles and three RBI.

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Box: DODGERS vs. MONTREAL (see text)