Perez Keeps Composure

Odalis Perez has remained cool throughout a frustrating first half while emerging as “the ace of our staff,” Manager Jim Tracy said.

The emotional left-hander has avoided a repeat of 2003, when he publicly blasted management and the everyday players for squandering the major league’s top pitching staff.

And Perez, ranking among the National League leaders in many categories but only 4-3 because of poor run support, has reason to complain this season.

But Perez said he wouldn’t go there again.

“It is tough, but if I lose my concentration, if I lost my temper

Beginning play Tuesday, Perez was fourth in the league with 101 1/3 innings, tied for seventh with a 2.84 earned-run average and tied for 13th with 72 strikeouts. He has quality starts in 12 of 15 outings, but the Dodgers are averaging only 3.6 runs in those games.

“I’m doing my job and pitching good,” Perez said. “If at the end of the season I don’t have a good record, or if I have a losing record, even if I go more than 200 innings, I’ll be happy. I’ll know I did my job. Sometimes you’re not going to get help. Sometimes we’re not going to score runs. But I’m not going to talk about that. All I can do is go out there every five days and just try to do my job.”

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The Dodgers’ reluctance to trade setup man Guillermo Mota could prevent them from acquiring another run producer or front-of-the-rotation starter, two National League general managers said. General Manager Paul DePodesta has repeatedly rejected offers for Mota, who many scouts believe would be a dominant closer.

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Dodgers vs. Giants

2004 RECORD

Dodgers lead series, 5-3

2003 RECORD

Giants won series, 13-6

ALL-TIME RECORD

Giants lead, 1,043-1,019

2004 AT SBC PARK

Dodgers lead series, 3-2

2003 AT PACIFIC BELL PARK

Giants won series, 8-2

ALL-TIME AT PAC BELL/SBC PARK

Giants lead series, 20-19