New York Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca, left, tags out Los Angeles Dodgers J.D. Drew at home plate in the second inning of the first game of the National League Division Series at Shea Stadium in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

New York Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca, left, tags out Los Angeles Dodgers J.D. Drew at home plate in the second inning of the first game of the National League Division Series at Shea Stadium in New York on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

New York Mets 54 - 47

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VERO BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Joe Torre isn't used to losing.

The short-handed New York Mets beat Los Angeles in the ninth inning for the second consecutive day on Sunday, and that annoyed the Dodgers' new manager.

``I don't care where you lose games. It's no fun to lose games,'' Torre said following his team's third straight setback. ``If you get beat, that's all right. You beat yourself, that's something you can't allow to happen.''

Angel Pagan's two-out, two-run single off Fernando De La Cruz capped a three-run, ninth-inning rally that lifted the Mets to a 6-5 victory.

Torre, who reached the playoffs in all 12 seasons as manager of the New York Yankees, pointed to mistakes that contributed to the loss. Reliever Mike Koplove walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth, failed to come up with Ruben Gotay's slow roller to the left of the mound with two outs that was generously ruled a run-scoring single, and hit a batter with a pitch to load the bases before Pagan's game-winning hit.

The Mets, hampered by several injuries, fielded a lineup that almost certainly won't include a player that starts on opening day. In addition, Gotay injured an ankle sliding home with the go-ahead run, but manager Willie Randolph said he didn't think it was serious.

The Mets played without Ryan Church (concussion) and Marlon Anderson (bruised sternum), who collided in Saturday's 1-0 victory over the Dodgers; Brian Schneider (tight right hamstring); and Carlos Delgado, who traveled to New York on Saturday for an MRI on his sore hip. It's hoped all four will return soon.

Carlos Beltran, Damion Easley, Endy Chavez, Luis Castillo and Ben Johnson are among the position players who haven't played in an exhibition game yet due to aches and pains.

In addition, David Wright, Jose Reyes and Moises Alou were given Sunday off.

The Mets contacted the Dodgers early in the day to inform them of their short-handed condition.

``I hope we get them out of the way now, man,'' Randolph said of the various ailments.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, went with the eight position players who figure to open the season as well as pitcher Derek Lowe, who's started on opening day each of the past three years.

Lowe blanked the Mets on one hit over two innings.

``It's hard to analyze two innings,'' he said. ``You just want to be able to throw strikes.''

Regarding the Mets' lineup, Lowe said: ``If you pitch at home, no disrespect, but superstars don't travel a lot. Those guys are sometimes harder to get out because they're trying to impress.''

Pagan had three singles and three RBIs. Gotay and Anderson Hernandez each doubled and singled for the Mets.

Nomar Garciaparra, James Loney and Matt Kemp had two hits each for the Dodgers. Garciaparra drove in three runs, but two came in the first off Oliver Perez on a two-out popup that should have been caught by either second baseman Gotay or right fielder Fernando Martinez.

``We didn't look very pretty in the first inning,'' Randolph said.

Perez allowed five hits and three runs in two innings, but just as easily could have pitched shutout ball had the Mets' defense made a couple of plays.

``I felt real good, that's the important thing,'' he said. ``In the first inning, I was a little wild. I was a little better in the second.''