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Wild thing: Perez pitches Mets past Dodgers 5-4

Jul 9, 2009 - 7:34 AM By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- With a no-look flip behind his back, Daniel Murphy hit a moving target in perfect stride.

Oliver Perez, on the other hand, had trouble throwing any strikes at all.

Murphy pulled off a defensive gem at first base, Perez won despite a wild return from the disabled list and the injury-depleted Mets finally mustered some offense, overcoming Manny Ramirez's homer in a 5-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"It's a big win," Murphy said. "I thought that we had some really good at-bats."

David Wright snapped an 0-for-17 slump with his first RBI this month. Murphy doubled twice and the Mets ended a four-game skid with their third victory in 12 games.

Ramirez hit a leadoff shot to right in the ninth inning off Francisco Rodriguez, making it 5-4. The All-Star closer walked his next batter but got Andre Ethier to ground into a game-ending double play with two on for his 22nd save in 25 chances.

Ramirez's 535th home run broke a tie with Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx for 16th place on the career list, one behind Mickey Mantle.

Booed by the crowd of 40,027, Ramirez went 1 for 5 in his fifth game back following a 50-game drug suspension. He played all nine innings for the first time since his return - the enigmatic slugger was ejected for tossing equipment following a fifth-inning strikeout Tuesday night.

"I've still got a long way to go," Ramirez said, explaining that he needs to build strength in his legs. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to get there."

Perez (2-2) walked a season-high seven in five innings, then was lifted for a pinch hitter with a 5-2 lead. He allowed four hits and struck out two, throwing 55 of 108 pitches for strikes.

"Sometimes you don't have command," Perez said. "Just one of those games you have to keep your team in the game. I feel healthy. I feel strong. I know what I have to do to get better."

New York caught a break in the seventh, when Mark Loretta's grounder caromed off first base and up in the air. A stumbling Murphy scooped up the ball with his bare hand and made a blind, behind-the-back flip to reliever Bobby Parnell covering the bag for an improbable out.

"That's just reaction right there - and being in the right place at the right time," Murphy said.

Loretta put both hands on his helmet, and Dodgers manager Joe Torre came out to argue the close call.

"That was about as unlucky as I've been on a baseball field in my career," Loretta said.

The Mets went 23 innings without scoring before touching up Hiroki Kuroda (3-5) for a run in the second. Ramirez reacted late in left field on Murphy's first-inning double over his head. The Mets had gone 29 innings without an extra-base hit, matching a club record done 12 times previously - the last in 1992.

Brewers 5, Cardinals 4=

At Milwaukee, Prince Fielder drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single with two outs in the eighth inning. Rookie Mat Gamel hit a two-run homer in the fourth, reliever Todd Coffey (4-1) got the win with two scoreless innings and Trevor Hoffman picked up his 19th save.

The Brewers, who trailed 4-1 in the fourth inning, moved back within a game of St. Louis in the NL Central despite losing five of the last seven.

Phillies 3, Reds 2=

At Philadelphia, Shane Victorino's RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning off David Weathers (1-2) gave the Phillies their fifth win in six games. Jayson Werth hit a solo homer for the NL East leaders and reliever Ryan Madson (3-4) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win in his longest outing this season.

Astros 5, Pirates 0=

At Houston, Wandy Rodriguez (8-6) pitched a five-hitter and tied his career high with 11 strikeouts in his second career complete game. Lance Berkman had two doubles and two RBIs for the Astros.

The Pirates have not won a road series since May 18-21.

Marlins 7, Giants 0=

At San Francisco, Chris Volstad pitched a five-hitter for his first career complete game and Dan Uggla hit a three-run homer as Florida avoided a sweep.

Volstad (6-8) struck out six and didn't walk a batter to win for just the second time in eight starts.

Giants rookie Ryan Sadowski (2-1) allowed his first runs in his third big league start after pitching 16 scoreless innings to begin his career.

Braves 4, Cubs 1=

At Chicago, Casey Kotchman homered for the Braves, who won a road series for the first time in nearly two months. Kenshin Kawakami (5-6) allowed one run - Kosuke Fukudome's sixth-inning homer - and four hits to earn his second victory since May 23.

Kevin Hart (0-1), making his first big league start as a fill-in for injured Ryan Dempster, allowed one run and four hits in five innings.

Rockies 10, Nationals 4=

At Denver, Ryan Spilborghs hit a triple with the bases loaded to key a four-run fifth for Colorado, which swept the three-game series. Troy Tulowitzki had a two-run homer among his three hits and Carlos Gonzalez added three hits for the Rockies.

Jorge De La Rosa (6-7) has won four straight and six of his last seven starts after going 0-6 with four no-decisions in his first 10.

Diamondbacks 6, Padres 2=

At Phoenix, Felipe Lopez hit a three-run homer to cap Arizona's five-run rally in the eighth. Clay Zavada (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the Diamondbacks, who won their season-high fifth straight.