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Martinez rallies Dodgers past Rockies

Aug 20, 2007 - 12:18 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers' offense cleaned up Scott Proctor's mess.

Ramon Martinez drove in three runs, including the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

With Colorado leading, 3-2, with one out in the eighth inning, Rockies reliever Jorge Julio (0-4) walked Andre Ethier and was then chased after Russell Martin's single to center.

"I just wanted to keep the inning going and get guys on base so we can have a chance," Martin said.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle's decision to bring in Jeremy Affeldt backfired as the lefthander issued a free pass to pinch hitter Jeff Kent to load the bases.

"You just can't walk guys that late in the game no matter who you are playing," Hurdle said.

Martinez, who had an RBI single in the second, delivered his second two-run base hit of the game off Affeldt to center, allowing Either and Martinez to score.

"Ramon is capable of coming up with a big hit and that's why we got so much confidence in him," Dodgers manager Grady Little said.

Dodgers closer Takashi Saito close the door in the ninth for his 33rd save and helped Proctor (2-0) record the victory despite his huge mistake in the top half.

"This was the biggest win of our season," Little said. "Anytime you lose a lead late in the game and then comeback is a great win for any club, especially ours."

Los Angeles held a 2-1 edge behind the efforts of starter Brad Penny and reliever Joe Beimel. The duo combined to keep the game in control through seven innings before giving way to Proctor, who gave up a two-run homer to Todd Helton.

It was Helton's 12th blast of the season and 35th career against Los Angeles.

Penny managed to pitch his way through five innings, only allowing one earn run on two hits. The burly righthander had control issues, allowing five walks and striking out three batters after tossing 111 pitches.

Los Angeles' Matt Kemp opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly against Rockies starter Jeff Francis in the first to plate Rafael Furcal, who doubled to lead off the inning.

The Dodgers pushed another run across the board an inning later, when Ethier was plated by Martinez's run-scoring single to make it 2-0.

Francis allowed two runs and six hits while striking out seven and walking two.

"Jeff struggled a bit with his location in the first couple innings but settled down and pitched a good game for us," Hurdle said.

The Rockies got a run against Penny in the fourth as Matt Holliday drew a leadoff walk and came around on Brad Hawpe's sacrifice fly to center field to cut it to 2-1.

"This win was huge," Penny said. "I was only on three days' rest, but fortunately it worked out for us. I felt good and could've pitched more if they needed me to. This was an important game for us."