This was one impressive three-game sweep of what might be the best team in the National League. Then again, maybe the Dodgers are the best team in the N.L. They just outscored the Mets 18-5 in the series. Penny was outstanding and improved to 8-1 while slicing his ERA to 2.18. Betemit went 2 for 4 with another homer, his seventh, and his average continued to climb, all the way to .223. You already know about Furcal's two triples. And James Loney homered to cap the scoring, a two-run blast in the eighth inning. How badly did the Dodgers dominate this series? Willie Randolph had to bring in Billy Wagner to pitch the eighth inning with the Mets trailing 7-1 because the legendary closer needed work. Mets have now lost a season-worst five in a row and 11 of 14. Dodgers (38-28) and Padres remain virtually tied atop the NL West, with the Snakes having dropped out of the three-way tie by losing to the Yankees. Padres are percentage points ahead. ... For those who missed it on this blog, Clayton Kershaw pitched seven shutout innings for the Loons tonight, allowing four hits while striking out eight. The break must have done him good. DeJon said there might be another break about two-thirds of the way through the season. ... The celebration of the 232nd birthday of the U.S. Army came to Dodger Stadium tonight, as about a thousand Army soldiers were on hand. Thanks to the Army for that incredible cake they had sent up to the press box. But mostly, thanks to them for what they do. They are among the true heroes of our society, and that became even more clear to me during my late-night visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day that I blogged about a couple of weeks ago from DC. ... The incident between Penny and Shawn Green after Green struck out to end the top of the third inning had to do with the fact Penny thought Green was tipping locations to Carlos Beltran and David Wright from second base after he doubled in the first inning. ``He was giving location to the hitters from second base,'' Penny said. ``Some guys have a reputation for doing that.'' Green denied doing it, but didn't deny ever doing it. ``He said, `They saw you relaying locations of pitches,' which I wasn't,'' Green said. ``I guess I have the reputation, so people assume I do it every time. It's part of the game, but I have been wrongly accused more than I have been rightly accused.'' The key part of Green's comment: It's part of the game. Penny, who we are told is more composed this year, needs to remember that and get over it.