LOS ANGELES — After a near-sleepless night, yesterday turned out to be just about the perfect day for Joe Torre. The former New York Yankees' manager was victorious in his debut as skipper of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Brad Penny allowed four hits over 6 2/3 innings in his first opening-day start, Jeff Kent hit a two-run homer off Barry Zito to cap a three-run first, and the Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-0, yesterday in a game that celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers' move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

"It's just total excitement," Torre said. "I had a lot of family here. That's the thing that probably chokes me up more than anything, looking up and seeing the family."

"He's brought a big bucket of professionalism and accountability that, at this time, this team needs," Kent said of Torre. "That's a good thing."

Torre said both he and his wife had a difficult time sleeping Sunday night.

"If you add it all up, it was probably about three hours," Torre said.

Penny (1-0) retired 13 straight batters before Bengie Molina hit a one-out single in the seventh. Scott Proctor relieved after Aaron Rowand's two-out single and retired Jose Castillo on a fly to center. Penny walked two and struck out three.

"It's an honor to get that first start," Penny said. "I didn't have command early. Later, I settled down, started throwing strikes."

Zito (0-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.