On the Mets beat

Arthur Staple here, Dave Lennon at Chavez Ravine, and the Mets and Joe Torre's Dodgers coming up in a few... Dodgers are 17-14, Mets are 16-13.

Oliver Perez (2-2, 4.03) starts tonight. His last start? Er, not so good: 1 2/3 innings, 7 runs (2 earned), with five walks in Wednesday's 13-1 loss to the Pirates.

Chad Billingsley (1-4, 5.20) starts for the Dodgers.

Getting the live blog fired up, and the game is on deck.

Top 1: Well, that was crisp for Billingsley, with two Ks and an infield pop by Reyes. Young Dodgers pitcher threw a lot of curves and sliders, and they all worked. No score.

Bottom 1: That was brutal. Perez gives up an 0-2 homer to Rafael Furcal to lead off the frame, then a two-out single to Russell Martin. In between, a liner off the gut from Jeff Kent. Not exactly erasing the bad memories of Wednesday's start. 2-0 Dodgers, end of 1.

Top 2: Carlos Delgado rips a double down the right field line, and third-base coach Sandy Alomar holds up Carlos Beltran rounding third... Hmm. Ends up being costly, with Billingsley whiffing Brian Schneider and Luis Castillo retired on a swinging bunt to third. 2-0, middle of the second.

Bottom 2: 1-2-3 inning for Perez, the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde pitcher. We'll see if he can be so smooth against the top of the Dodgers order. And boy, Andruw Jones stinks. Getting booed in LA already. 2-0, end of 2.

Top 3: Reyes walks, steals second, moves to third with two out and Wright whiffs for the second time. Five Ks for Billingsley through three. 2-0, middle of the third.

Bottom 3: Perez isn't just settling in, he's added some nifty defense. Great glove-flip by Delgado and a nice play at first by Perez to nab Juan Pierre on a slow roller. Seven straight retired by Perez. 2-0 after 3.

Top 4: Again, the Mets put two on with two out, and again, Castillo slaps a bouncer to third for the final out. Castillo from the left side looks like the No. 2 hitter on a college softball team. 2-0, middle of 4.

Bottom 4: Did I mention Andruw Jones stinks? Runner on third, two out, and he's less of a threat than Castillo. Apparently, Perez getting a ball in the bread basket was just the ticket. 2-0, end of 4.

Top 5: At least Wright put it in play... Too bad it was to Furcal, who dazzled with a throw to get Wright. Billingsley is up near 80 pitches, but if he makes it through six or seven, the Dodgers' pen will be trouble. 2-0, middle of 5.

Bottom 5: Now, the wheels are off. Perez hasn't pitched poorly, but he's left three pitches out over the plate. They all ended up over the wall. Rookie Blake DeWitt crushed a solo shot to dead center, then Matt Kemp's two-run homer is a crusher -- almost as bad was the two-out walk to Pierre. 5-0, end of 5.

Top 6: A chance to build something falls short, thanks to the Delgado switch. He ripped one up the middle, right to Furcal, who started a 6-3 DP to cut short a Mets inning that produced their first run on Alou's single. Not enough, but Billingsley looks cooked. 5-1, middle of 6.

Bottom 6: Nice DP turn by Castillo to get out of the inning. Perez is seemingly done, and aside from the three HR and five runs, hey, it wasn't all that bad an outing for Ollie. I guess. 5-1, end of 6.

Top 7: Nice job by Joe Beimel in relief of Billingsley, with help from Kemp in right. Dodgers holding strong into the stretch. 5-1, middle of 7.

Bottom 7: Schoenweis continues to pitch very well, with a 1-2-3 inning. Wright, Beltran, Alou due up against Jonathan Broxton. Maybe the Mets' last gasp tonight. 5-1, end of 7.

Top 8: Well, that wasn't much... Broxton was bringing the nasty to Beltran and Alou, striking them both out with sliders. 5-1, middle of 8.

Bottom 8: Jorge Sosa gets that bulky ERA down a bit with a scoreless 8th. Last licks against Takashi Saito. Not promising. 5-1, end of 8.

Top 9: That was brief. Saito retires the side in order. No save, but a dominating night by the Dodgers' pitchers. Perez wasn't awful, but three mistakes and five runs. Mets go down, 5-1. Get some sleep.