Mets 6, Dodgers 2

VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) --The Mets' Oliver Perez and the Dodgers' Brad Penny are having quite different exhibition seasons.

Perez tossed six strong innings, giving up one unearned run, while Penny was scratched from the lineup because of irritation in his right shoulder, and New York defeated Los Angeles 6-2 on Wednesday night.

"I've started to get my composure on the mound, and I just need to keep working to get stronger," said Perez, who was hit on the back of the right thigh by a line drive by Olmedo Saenz in the first inning.

The outing was another impressive effort for the 25-year-old Perez. Last Thursday night in Port St. Lucie, he shut down the Boston Red Sox, throwing five shutout innings of three-hit ball while striking out nine and walking none.

"I'm just throwing what the catcher tells me to throw. Sometimes I try to overthrow and walk too many guys. Now I'm just trying to stay down in the zone," he said.

Perez gave up four hits, allowing a run in his final inning when David Wright's two-base throwing error put Jason Repko in scoring position. Mike Lieberthal followed with a sacrifice fly.

Jose Reyes keyed the Mets offense, going 3-for-3, stealing three bases and scoring four runs. Catcher Ramon Castro added a two-run homer.

With Penny sitting out, left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo walked four and threw three wild pitches in three innings.

Los Angeles manager Grady Little said the 28-year-old Penny had undergone an MRI on Monday after throwing a bullpen session. The scan revealed irritation in the front part of Penny's right shoulder. Little said the team would be careful with the pitcher, who is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday.

"We're just giving him a couple more days. He's got two more starts left in spring training. We're probably being overly cautious because we're afforded the time," Little said.

Penny will remain on schedule and work as if he pitched in the game.

"It's been off and on. If this were a regular-season game, I would've pitched, but I don't want it to progress and get any worse," said Penny, who is scheduled to pitch against the Mets next Monday and against the Angels in Anaheim a week from Saturday.

He's 0-1 with a 12.86 ERA this spring.