The difference between a win and a loss can often come down to doing the simple things.

Such was the case in Friday night’s tilt between New York and Los Angeles.

Ex-Met Roberto Hernandez’s throwing error on a sacrifice attempt scored Jose Reyes with the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth and Carlos Beltran followed with a two-run homer as New York defeated the Dodgers for the second straight game, 4-1, at Dodger Stadium.

David Wright got the Mets going for the second consecutive night, singling home a run in the first and Oliver Perez surrendered a run on five hits and three walks while striking out eight in 7 1/3 innings to win his second straight start.

With the scored tied, 1-1, in the eighth, Reyes stroked an opposite field double off Hernandez (3-2), who then threw away a sacrifice attempt by Marlon Anderson, allowing the go-ahead run to score.

Beltran (2-for-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) followed with his 18th home run and second in as many nights to give New York a 4-1 cushion.

The Dodgers put two runners on in the bottom half off Perez (9-6) and Joe Smith, but Pedro Feliciano retired Luis Gonzalez on a fielder’s choice and Nomar Garciaparra on a fly out to end the threat.

Billy Wagner pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 21st save in 22 chances.

New York jumped ahead in the first inning for the second straight game, this time with a little help from the Dodgers defense.

With one man down, Anderson lifted a lazy fly ball to left-center that both Gonzalez and Juan Pierre converged on, but neither player took charge and the ball dropped in for a two-base error.

After Beltran struck out, Wright (1-for-3, RBI) delivered a base hit up the middle to give the Mets a 1-0 lead.

Garciaparra tied the game in the second, clubbing his third home run of the season and first since June 30.

Los Angeles starter Brett Tomko turned in his second consecutive strong start after moving back into the rotation. The right-hander allowed just an unearned run on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts in six innings.

In his last two starts, Tomko has surrendered four runs – one earned – over 11 frames (0.82 ERA).

Pierre, who also stole two bases to reach 40 for the seventh straight year, extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the first.

Jeff Kent went 2-for-3 for the Dodgers, who have lost two straight after winning six-of-seven.

Jose Valentin left the game after fouling a ball of his right leg. X-rays showed a fractured tibia which will sideline him indefinitely.

After scoring just five runs total in a three-game sweep last month at Chavez Ravine, the Mets (54-42) have turned the tables on the Dodgers through the first two games of this series. Jorge Sosa (7-4, 3.84) will make his second start since being activated from the disabled list after straining his left hamstring back on June 30. The 30-year-old right-hander suffered the loss on Monday in San Diego despite allowing just two runs over six frames of work. Sosa faced Los Angeles last month and was roughed up for six runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 9-1 loss.

Despite suffering their second straight defeat, the Dodgers (54-43) remain tied with the Padres atop the National League West. Brad Penny (11-1, 2.33) goes for his seventh consecutive victory as he toes the rubber on Saturday afternoon. The right-hander is 6-0 over his last 10 starts with a 2.15 ERA and has allowed one run or fewer eight times in that span. Penny has struggled against the Mets in his career, but he limited them to just one run over seven innings in a victory back on June 13.

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