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Martin helps Dodgers edge Pirates in series opener

Jun 2, 2007 - 4:30 AM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Russell Martin and the Los Angeles Dodgers got back on track.

Martin delivered the go-ahead homer as the Dodgers won for the fourth time in five games with a 5-4 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

Los Angeles bounced back nicely after getting tagged for 14 hits in an 11-4 thrashing at the hands of the Washington Nationals, snapping a three-game winning streak on Thursday.

Dodgers starter Randy Wolf (7-3) battled through five innings for the win, surrendering four runs and seven hits to remain undefeated in his last six outings. He had three strikeouts with two walks.

"I'll take them any way I can get them, I'm not picky," Wolf said. "Of course you'd much rather pitch well and pitch a complete-game shutout. It wasn't pretty but luckily we had some big hit and the bullpen did an amazing job they were big for us."

Relievers Chad Billingsley and Joe Beimel bridged the gap to closer Takashi Saito, who registered his 16th save in as many chances and 26th consecutive since last season.

The Pirates had a chance to tie the game in the eighth as Adam LaRoche laced a doubled with one out. But Saito closed the door, fanning Ronny Paulino and Jack Wilson to end the inning.

"In a situation when you have to get more than three out, it's probably the toughest save that you can get," Saito said through an interpreter. "You have to keep that level of intensity high when you get those saves that are more than three outs."

"We were in a situation where the guy hadn't worked in four or five days and he was going to pitch regardless of how the game was going," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "He was well equipped to go more than one (inning), he could've possibly gone two."

In the fourth inning, rookie Tony Abreu hit a two-run double and Rafael Furcal added an RBI single two batters later off starter Zach Duke (2-6) as Los Angeles grabbed a 4-2 edge.

But Pittsburgh got those runs back in the bottom half as Chris Duffy laced a two-run triple to right, tying the game at 4-4. Duffy has been stellar since moving into the second slot in the batting order, collecting five doubles and two triples in his last 10 games.

However, Martin stepped up and stroked a leadoff blast - his sixth of the season - in the fifth as Los Angeles grabbed the lead for good. Martin has homered in each of his last three games.

"I'm just trying to square the ball up and drive it," Martin said. "Some days you get the ball on a good angle and it goes out. I've been feeling pretty good at the plate. Against lefties, I just feel like I can get locked in and drive the ball the other way and that helps me get extended and get some good swings on the ball."

"Russell's been outstanding," Little said. "He's been getting some balls elevated. He's a strong kid, he's hitting those balls out of the park where they're tough to hit balls out of the park. We're proud for him; he plays hard every day and it's good to see him getting some good results."

Duke lasted six frames, allowing five runs and eight hits in remaining winless at home this season. The lefthander has not won at PNC Park since throwing eight shutout frames for a 3-0 victory over the New York Mets on September 17.

"I know it seems funny to say this on a night when I gave up five runs, but I thought I threw it a lot better," Duke said. "My stuff was better, it was a lot crisper."

Jason Bay doubled and homered to extend his hitting streak to eight games for Pittsburgh, which has dropped three straight games. The reigning National League Rookie of the Week is 16-for-31 with four homers and 12 RBI over this stretch.