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Gonzalez's 6 RBIs snaps L.A.'s 9-game win streak

May 20, 2010 - 7:06 AM LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Adrian Gonzalez seems to think his swing is starting to come around to the level he expects it to be. The Los Angeles Dodgers can assure him he's already there.

Gonzalez homered and had a career-high six RBIs, Will Venable had four hits including a triple and two doubles, and the San Diego Padres put an emphatic end to the Dodgers' nine-game winning streak with a 10-5 victory on Wednesday night.

"My last two games I started making a couple of adjustments at the plate the last couple of at-bats," Gonzalez said. "I kept telling my wife 'It's close.' I told her that by the time I get to Seattle, I think I'm going to be swinging the bat pretty good because of those adjustments."

Gonzalez, who has had 12 four-RBI games in his career, added a run-scoring single in the ninth against George Sherrill. He came in with only 19 RBIs, after averaging 106 over the previous three seasons.

"He had a little lull there for a little while, but it's no secret he's our guy," Venable said. "One thing about Adrian, he's always in control. And when things aren't going right, he knows it's just a matter of time before it does. We look for him to get those big knocks and get some runs on the board. He did a great job of that tonight, and he's going to continue to do it."

Jon Garland (5-2) allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.67 ERA over his last six starts.

The Dodgers, already without major league batting leader Andre Ethier for an indefinite period because of a broken bone in his right pinky, had to scratch left fielder Manny Ramirez just before game time because of an injured little toe on his left foot.

Ramirez, who was 15 for 30 lifetime against Garland with three home runs, pinch-hit against him in the fifth with two men on, two out and the Dodgers trailing 8-4. He struck out on a 2-2 pitch.

"He's fine," manager Joe Torre said. "What happened was just one of those freak things. He was getting his legs loose like he does every night. But he swung his legs and he happened to hit his little toe on a table in the trainer's room. He went and got it X-rayed and everything was negative, thank goodness. It was sore, but for him to be able to pinch-hit was good.

"We're into little things - first the pinky with Ethier, then the little toe with Manny. Hopefully, that's the end of it," Torre added with a laugh.

Gonzalez and Chase Headley hit consecutive homers during a five-run fourth that gave the Padres an 8-3 lead over the two-time NL West champions. Venable's RBI single snapped a 3-3 tie and chased Dodgers starter Ramon Ortiz (1-2), who was making his second start out of the bullpen because of injuries to Vicente Padilla and struggling knuckleballer Charlie Haeger.

David Eckstein greeted Ramon Troncoso with a single and Gonzalez followed with his ninth home run, snapping a scoreless streak of 15 1-3 innings by the Dodgers' bullpen.

"After the way they beat up on us three days in a row in San Diego, it was nice to come in here and get one," Gonzalez said. "These games aren't that important yet, but they might end up being important in September."

Venable became the first Padres batter this season to get four hits in a game. In his previous 10 games, he was 3-for-21 with one RBI and no extra-base hits. This was the first time he has been in the leadoff spot this season.

"Buddy's put me there before, so it's a spot that I'm comfortable with," Venable said. "Buddy called me into the office before the game and told me to just stick with the approach I've been taking. Luckily it worked out tonight, so I'll see how it goes from here on out."

Ortiz was charged with five runs and six hits in 3 1-3 innings. Los Angeles had not allowed more than three runs in any game during its longest winning streak since 2006.

NOTES: Garland has gone seven starts and 45 2-3 innings without allowing a home run, having faced 186 batters since giving up a solo shot by Colorado's Miguel Olivo on April 11 at Coors Field. The homerless streak is Garland's longest since 2006 (eight starts and 54 innings). ... The Padres begin a three-game interleague series Friday night at Seattle. It will be a reunion of sorts for manager Bud Black and former Padre Milton Bradley, who tore a ligament in his right knee late in the 2007 season when Black spun him to the ground as he tried to go after umpire Mike Winters. Bradley returned to the Mariners on Wednesday after two weeks of counseling for personal issues and anger management, after his latest temper-related incident on May 4. Bradley had similar issues when he played for the Dodgers.