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Wolf, Martin help Dodgers top Diamondbacks

Jun 29, 2007 - 3:53 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Randy Johnson struggled in his first game off the disabled list as the Los Angeles Dodgers showed no mercy, posting a 9-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Russell Martin had three hits - including a two-run homer - and Jeff Kent added three hits and two RBI for Los Angeles, which took three of four from Arizona.

The Dodgers, who finished their 10-game road trip at 6-4, moved into a tie for first place with the idle San Diego Padres in the National League West Division.

"We like the way we are playing right now," Dodger manager Grady Little said. "Everyone realizes it is going to be tight until the end. Last year, there were two teams. This year, there will be three, maybe four. Beating them three out of four, I don't put a lot of stock in those numbers."

Johnson (4-3), who was placed on the 15-day DL on June 11 with a herniated disk in his back, did not look like a five-time Cy Young Award winner. The 43-year-old was pulled after throwing just 70 pitches in three innings, allowing four runs - three earned - and six hits.

"I will chalk this one up to just coming of the DL and not pitching for 18 days," Johnson said. "I didn't execute my pitches and I got hurt."

The lefthander, who walked two and struck out two, had won his previous four starts, posting a 1.52 ERA before suffering the injury.

"The rhythm I was in prior to going on the DL, I was on a roll," Johnson said. "I am not going to get all worked up over it. I pitched poorly, but I got back out there. It sure wasn't very effective, but I am looking forward to my next start."

Los Angeles spoiled Johnson's return in the first inning, when after Rafael Furcal led off with a single, Martin blasted a 434-foot homer over the center field wall for his ninth blast and a 2-0 advantage.

"I was getting kind of worried falling behind 0-2," Martin said. "After that, I had no choice but to swing the bat. It was a fastball up a little and I took a good swing at it and it traveled."

The Dodgers padded their lead in the third, when Kent scored on a fielding error by center fielder Chris Young. James Loney added an RBI single later in the frame to make it 4-0.

That was enough support for Randy Wolf (9-6), who yielded three runs, four hits and six walks in six innings to snap a two-game losing streak. The lefthander, who struck out four, was just 1-3 with a 6.35 ERA in his prior four outings.

"It is still a work in progress. Obviously, six walks is not ideal," Wolf said. "It is getting more towards where I need to be. I still have times where I have lapses, but it is going in a better direction."

Kent delivered a two-run single in the fourth, and Los Angeles plated two more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to widen the gap to 9-1.

Eric Byrnes and Orlando Hudson each drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped seven of nine vs. the Dodgers and fell one-half game out of first in the NL West.

"Last night was a big win, but tonight we got behind early, so I don't think it affects us going into tomorrow," Diamondback manager Bob Melvin said. "Randy didn't have his best stuff coming off the DL, and that was expected."