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Wolf strikes out 10 as Dodgers pound Pirates

Apr 21, 2007 - 6:54 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- With a big assist from Randy Wolf, the Los Angeles Dodgers kept on rolling.

Wolf recorded 10 strikeouts and added two hits, and Juan Pierre continued his onslaught of Tony Armas Jr. as the Dodgers pounded the Pirates, 10-2, in the opener of a six-game homestand. Nomar Garciaparra and Luis Gonzalez drove in two runs apiece and Andre Ethier homered for the Dodgers, who are 12-3 since starting the season with consecutive losses.

"We're hitting really well right now," Little said. "With this lineup, that can happen. We just want to keep it going." Wolf (3-1), who signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this offseason after missing most of last year recovering from elbow surgery, yielded just a first-inning run and six hits in six innings.

"He was missing his location early," Little said. "Then he gained command after a while. He was sharp from the second inning on."

Wolf recorded the 10th double-digit strikeout performance of his career and first since notching a career-high 13 on September 9, 2002 against Cincinnati while with Philadelphia.

"He was good tonight," Pirates center fielder Xavier Nady said. "We struck out a lot and couldn't get anything going against him."

Wolf seemed poised to continue in the seventh, but the Dodger offense kept him on the bench for too long as they scored their final run.

"I was in a good rhythm and ready to go back out there, but Grady changed his mind with our long inning," Wolf said.

Pierre entered the contest 11-for-19 lifetime against Armas, the Pirates' starter. He singled, stole a base and scored in both the first and third innings against the righthander as the Dodgers jumped to an 8-1 lead.

"He's pretty good," Armas said. "He was a tough out all night out there."

Pierre finished 3-for-4 with three runs and the Dodgers finished with 13 hits.

The Dodgers plated six runs in the third, a rally capped by a two-run double by Wolf.

"He can swing the bat," Dodgers catcher Russell Martin said. "Everyone looks good at the plate right now. We're putting together quality at bats and scoring a lot of runs." "I was lost right there," Armas said. "It was frustrating when he got that hit. It was like they knew what was coming. I have to pitch better than that."

Armas (0-2) did not survive the inning, leaving after surrendering eight runs and seven hits while recording just eight outs.

"We're in the big leagues," Armas said. "You have to do your job and I didn't do mine. I'm not going to make excuses. I straight out stunk today."

Jason Bay had two hits for Pittsburgh, which has lost seven of nine. The Pirates have also dropped six of eight to the Dodgers.

"We got the hell beat out of us tonight," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said. "You can't dig holes like that early in a game and expect to win. It's just not going to happen."