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Reyes, Beltran make sure Perez's effort is rewarded

Jul 21, 2007 - 6:37 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran made sure not to spoil another solid effort by Oliver Perez.

Reyes doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth and Beltran hit a two-run homer as the New York Mets posted a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

With the game tied at 1-1, Reyes led off the eighth with a double off Roberto Hernandez (0-1) and scored when the former Met made a throwing error on a sacrifice by Marlon Anderson.

Beltran then made it 4-1 by blasting his 18th homer of the season to right-center field as the Mets took advantage of a pair of errors to post their second straight win.

"That's the way we're supposed to play the game, to take advantage of their mistakes," Beltran said. "That's what we did today."

Hernandez was upset with himself for botching an easy throw.

"I should have been able to keep myself under control," he said. "It was a stupid play. I think I thought I had more time than I did."

The late outburst enabled Perez (9-6) to win his second straight start after being on the disabled list since July 3 with stiffness in his lower back.

The lefthander, who entered the game holding opponents to a .211 average, limited the Dodgers to one run and six hits in 7 1/3 innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.

"I felt really good," Perez said. "I know they have a really hard lineup, so I was just trying to change speeds and make good pitches."

It was the second straight impressive performance by Perez, who held the Cincinnati Reds to two runs and six hits in six innings in his return from the DL on Sunday.

Perez was relieved by rookie Joe Smith after allowing a single by All-Star Russell Martin. Smith allowed a base hit by Jeff Kent before Pedro Feliciano came on to get Luis Gonzalez to hit into a forceout and Nomar Garciaparra to fly out to center.

Billy Wagner tossed a scoreless ninth to record his 21st save in 22 chances as New York improved to 3-2 on its seven-game road trip.

The 25-year-old Perez's only mistake came in the second, when he allowed a leadoff homer on the first pitch to Garciaparra that tied the game at 1-1.

The Dodgers had an excellent chance to take the lead in the sixth but could not capitalize. Kent led off the inning with a double off the center field wall but was stranded as Perez retired the next three hitters in order.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles starter Brett Tomko - who was making just his second start since May 21 after spending two months in the bullpen - had his best outing since his season debut on April 10 against Colorado. He gave up just one unearned run and five hits in six innings, walking one and striking out three.

"I had a little bit of everything," Tomko said. "I mixed my pitches well and tried to keep guys off-balance. It was nice to get on a roll."

Tomko surrendered his only run in the first, when David Wright's single plated Anderson. Let go by the Dodgers earlier this month, Anderson reached second two batters earlier when his fly ball to the left-center field gap was dropped by center fielder Juan Pierre for an error.