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Lowe finally gets some support in long-awaited win

Aug 17, 2007 - 6:50 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Derek Lowe has struggled all season to get help from his offense. Fortunately for him, Jeff Kent showed up.

Lowe tossed seven scoreless innings and Kent had two RBI as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros.

In nine of his 11 losses this season, Los Angeles has scored three runs or less for their two-time All-Star. However, Lowe (9-11), who allowed five hits and did not allow a Houston batter to reach second base, had his sinker working all game long, forcing 16 ground-ball outs - including four double plays - out of the 21 outs he recorded to get his first win since June 22 - a span of nine starts.

"Lowe was locked in today by using the corners of the plate and mixing up his pitches," Dodges catcher Russell Martin said. "We just have to stay consistent with the all-around good pitching, hitting and defense and we can put some wins together."

"Our team did a great job playing defense and putting runs on the board for me tonight," Lowe said. "It's been a long time since I got a win and it feels good."

Kent, coming off a torrid July in which he hit .447 with 20 RBI, was batting .067 (2-for-30) for the month entering this contest, accounted for all the Dodgers' extra-base hits when he equaled a career high with three doubles, the first of which pushed across two runs.

"It's baseball and everyone goes in a hitting slump at some point," Kent said. "It's just good to come out and score some runs two nights in a row."

After doubling off Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (7-11) to open up the fourth and later scoring to increase the Los Angeles lead to 3-0, the 2000 National League MVP belted his final two-bagger to deep center in the seventh before leaving the game for pinch runner Ramon Martinez.

"I felt good out there but they just seemed to find the holes," Rodriguez said. "I didn't throw a lot of pitches and a lot were strikes so I knew I had my command."

Rafael Furcal added two hits and two RBI for Los Angeles, which scored more than two runs for just the sixth time in 15 August games.

"I'm glad with the way were playing baseball these past two games," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "We got a big series with the Rockies, so I hope we can keep playing good."

Rodriguez threw five innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out two. The lefthander continued his road woes, falling to 1-9 with a 7.81 ERA as opposed to his stellar 6-2 mark with a 1.65 ERA.

"I can't explain it," Rodriguez said. "I know that my stats show that I pitch good at home and have trouble on the road but I just go out and pitch the same way no matter where I throw."

Dodger reliever Roberto Hernandez came on in relief in the ninth and surrendered two runs while recording just one out. His tough outing overshadowed that he became just the 12th pitcher in major league history to appear in 1,000 games.

Dodger closer Takashi Saito relieved Hernandez and retired Ty Wigginton and Jason Lane to post his 31st save in 34 chances.

Carlos Lee lined a double over the head of third baseman Shea Hillenbrand off Hernandez with one out to end the shutout for the Astros, who fell to 9-43 in games in which they scored three or fewer runs.