NEW YORK (AP) -- Odalis Perez was almost perfect again, and he's
sure he'll put his name in the record book someday.

Perez retired his first 19 batters, and Shawn Green homered and
drove in four runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the New York
Mets 10-4 on Saturday night.

It was the latest in a handful of dominating efforts by Perez
this season. He faced the minimum 27 batters in a one-hit victory
over the Chicago Cubs on April 26, and threw a one-hit shutout
against Colorado in June.

"I know some time, some day a perfect game is coming,'' Perez
said. "This is the third time. You don't see too many pitchers go
that deep into the game. I don't know when, I don't know how long
it's going to take. But I know it will come.''

The Mets dropped their 10th in a row at home and set a season
high with seven consecutive losses overall.

The crowd of 50,763 chanted "Go on Strike! Go on Strike!'' when
the Mets fell behind 8-0 in the third inning. They slipped into
last place in the NL East.

"It's killing me,'' Mets manager Bobby Valentine said. "How
tough is it? What do you mean? Do you want my blood pressure? It's
killing me, it's killing my folks, it's killing my family. It's
killing my dog.''

New York's skid at Shea Stadium is its worst since setting a
franchise record by losing the final 13 home games in 1979 under
manager Joe Torre.

Perez (11-8) cruised into the seventh without allowing a
baserunner until Rey Ordonez drew a one-out walk.

Ordonez barely checked his swing on a 3-2 delivery, and Mike
Piazza hit the next pitch 455 feet over the left-field bleachers to
spoil the no-hit bid.

"I saw the replays. The pitch was just a little bit inside, but
he swung,'' Perez said of Ordonez. "I mean, there's a perfect game
going. Either the first base umpire or the home plate umpire, they
should have called it. But they're human. After they make the call,
nothing is going to change.''

It was Piazza's 24th home run of the season and 328th as a
catcher, moving past Johnny Bench for second on the career list.

Carlton Fisk holds the major league record with 351 homers as a
catcher.

"He had as good stuff that day in Chicago as he did today,''
Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca said of Perez. "I know you don't want
to give up a home run to Mike, but if you're going to give up a
hit, it might as well be a legitimate one like that. I guess it's a
little easier to swallow.''

Perez set down his next two batters and then came out. The
24-year-old left-hander, acquired along with Brian Jordan from
Atlanta for Gary Sheffield last winter, struck out seven and walked
one.

Perez threw 61 of 87 pitches for strikes, toying with a Mets
lineup missing Roberto Alomar and Edgardo Alfonzo.

"This guy is going to get better. He's pretty good now, but
he's going to get better,'' Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said. "He
had great stuff tonight. When he gets locked in, he's a very
dominating guy.''

Dave Roberts had three hits and a two-run triple for the
Dodgers, who have won four straight and eight of 10. They increased
their lead in the NL wild-card race to three games over San
Francisco.

Perez had been 0-4 in his previous six starts since winning July
5 at St. Louis. He also drove in a run with a single in a five-run
third as the Dodgers roughed up Pedro Astacio (11-6).

Consecutive singles by Marquis Grissom, Mark Grudzielanek and
Green gave the Dodgers the lead in the third.

Dave Hansen hit an RBI double with two outs, former Met Mike
Kinkade followed with a two-run double and Perez lined an RBI
single in front of sliding right fielder Joe McEwing to make it
5-0.

Green hit his 36th home run in the fourth, a three-run shot into
the right-field bullpen for an 8-0 lead.

"We've played a ton of close games, so it was nice to have one
not decided in the eighth or ninth inning,'' Green said.

Roberts added a two-run triple off Jaime Cerda in the seventh.

Astacio, the Mets' best pitcher all season, has allowed 14 runs
and 20 hits in 8 1-3 innings (15.12 ERA) over his last two starts.
His ERA rose from 3.14 to 3.54 Saturday night, giving up a
season-high eight runs and 12 hits in three-plus innings.

"Baseball is a crazy game. This is not the first time in my
career,'' Astacio said. "You have some bad times. You have to keep
your head up and go out and compete.''

Game notes
Perez didn't go to three balls on a batter until falling
behind Ordonez 3-0 in the seventh. ... The Dodgers are 34-16 when
Grissom starts. ... Alomar missed his second consecutive game with
a strained left groin. ... New York's starting outfield of Roger
Cedeno, Timo Perez and McEwing has combined for 14 home runs and 18
errors this season. ... Piazza returned to the starting lineup for
the first time in five games. He was out with tendinitis in his
left wrist.