DODGERS OUTLAST NEW YORK REBOULET SINGLES HOME KARROS IN THE 13TH DODGERS 3, NEW YORK 2.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

Jeff Reboulet had just two hits in 12 previous at-bats this season. The utility infielder just hadn't been able to find work in the Dodgers lineup.

Maybe that will change.

Reboulet had the game-winning, pinch-hit single to center field to give the Dodgers a 3-2 victory over the New York Mets in 13 innings Monday night in front of 27,659 at Dodger Stadium.

Not that many were left to see the end of the 4-hour, 23-minute game.

``Sometimes it comes down to the 25th guy,'' Reboulet said. ``Sometimes it comes down to the weakest link, and I just want to raise that bar.''

Reboulet's heroics came at the expense of Mets reliever Mark Corey, just recalled from New York's Triple-A Norfolk (Va.) team. Reboulet hit a 2-2 pitch to score Eric Karros from second. Timo Perez made a solid one-hop throw from center, but it ricocheted off catcher Mike Piazza's shoulder.

``There hasn't been a lot of opportunities (for Reboulet) at this point,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. ``But Jeff Reboulet understands what's going on here. He's handled it like the absolute professional that he is.''

Dodgers left-hander Odalis Perez continued his hot, durable pitching streak, though he wasn't as dominant as he has been. Perez had won four consecutive starts but didn't factor into Monday's decision.

Eric Gagne pitched a scoreless ninth, Omar Daal pitched two scoreless innings and Giovanni Carrara, who earned the win, pitched scoreless innings in the 12th and 13th. Carrara, however, threw 29 pitches in the 12th. He had a 13-pitch at-bat against Edgardo Alfonzo to lead off the 12th but retired the next three batters.

With one out in the ninth, Timo Perez singled. Gagne then got ahead 0-2 on the next two batters - Alfonzo and Roberto Alomar. Alfonzo reached on a fielder's choice for the second out, and Gagne made the putout on a comebacker by Alomar.

With runners on first and second in the bottom of the 10th, Paul Lo Duca fought off several David Weathers pitches before connecting on one that Roger Cedeno caught on the warning track in left.

Daal had a scare in the 11th when Timo Perez hit a shot to right, which Shawn Green caught at the warning track. Daal let out a sigh of relief and a nervous laugh on his way back to the dugout.

The Mets lost 4-3 to Colorado in 13 innings Sunday, and the bullpen had to throw six of those innings. They had to throw seven Monday.

Odalis Perez gave up a run-scoring single on a full-count fastball to former Angels first baseman Mo Vaughn in the eighth, which tied the game at 2-2, and his night was done. The Dodgers intentionally walked Piazza - whom the Dodgers traded to the Marlins in 1998 - to get to Vaughn. Perez threw 111 pitches, scattered seven hits, struck out six and allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings.

He walked three batters, one intentional, after having walked just six in his seven previous starts. In the three innings Perez issued a walk, the Mets only scored in the inning when Piazza was walked intentionally. Still, Perez is 4-1 with a 1.75 ERA and opponents are batting just .176.

``He has every intention that every fifth day he walks in here he's going to do well, and it's rubbed off on his teammates,'' Tracy said. ``They definitely feel the exact same way. They know the nature of the guy. They know his lightheartedness, even on the day when he pitches. The expectation level that he's built for himself, as far as his teammates are concerned, is way up there.''

The Dodgers scored two runs in the fifth off Shawn Estes for a 2-1 lead. Mark Grudzielanek smacked a curveball to right-center field for a single to score Brian Jordan from second. Perez laid down a sacrifice bunt and Adrian Beltre scored from third on a Cesar Izturis sacrifice fly to center.

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Photo:

(color) Adrian Beltre slides in safely behind New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza in the Dodgers' two-run fifth inning Monday night.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer