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Durham homers in eighth to lead Giants to victory

Sep 10, 2007 - 12:52 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Ray Durham hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday, lifting the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the series finale.

With the Dodgers ahead 2-1 in the eighth, starter Brad Penny surrendered a leadoff double to Kevin Frandsen. After Scott Proctor relieved Penny, Frandsen advanced to third on a wild pitch before Randy Winn struck out for the first out of the inning.

Barry Bonds was intentionally walked by lefthander Joe Beimel (4-2) with lefthanded hitting Ryan Klesko on deck. However, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy elected to pinch hit switch-hitting Durham, summoning righthander Jonathan Broxton from the bullpen.

Durham blasted an 0-2, off-speed pitch over the wall in right field for his 11th home run of the season, giving the Giants a 4-2 lead.

"It's been a tough year," said Durham. "It's funny, I told (Rich Aurilia) I've just found my swing with three weeks to go in the season. So it's kind of fitting that I hit a home run today.

Broxton, who went a span of 94 games from July of 2006 to August of this season without allowing a homer, has now been tattooed for game winning home runs in two of the Dodgers last three games.

"It was the right pitch, but I just didn't execute like I should have," Broxton said. "I wasn't tired, I just made a mistake and it cost me."

Durham, who entered today's contest batting .216 with 10 home runs and 61 RBI, said he has not gotten down on himself despite his anemic season.

"Looking at film of last year and two years ago, it's the same swing," Durham said. "I can't really explain it, it's just been one of those years. I still have my head up and I'm fighting to make my stats respectable."

Tyler Walker (1-0) relieved starter Matt Cain in the eighth inning, allowing one hit in the frame to earn the win. Brad Hennessey pitched the ninth for his 19th save of the season.

Penny allowed two runs and eight hits over seven-plus innings. The righthander struck out one and walked one as the Dodgers bullpen failed to hold the victory.

The Dodgers ace allowed his only run in the first inning when Winn grounded into a fielder's choice, plating Dave Roberts, who led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on Frandsen's sacrifice bunt.

The Giants scored only one run while starter Matt Cain was in the game. Cain, who suffers the fourth lowest run support in the National League, was outstanding over seven innings, allowing only one run and seven hits. The righthander struck out four and walked one.

Kent tied the game at 1-1 in the second when he led off the inning with his 18th home run of the season, reversing an 0-1 fastball from Cain.

The score remained tied until the seventh, when Kent opened the frame with his second solo home run of the game, blasting a 2-2 slider over the fence in center field to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.

Los Angeles loaded the bases in the inning, but rookie Tony Abreu couldn't capitalize as he grounded to first to end the threat. The missed opportunity proved costly for the Dodgers (75-68), who are now 5 1/2 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks (81-63) in the National League West Division.

"It's going to be important to play consistent baseball without getting amped up," Kent said. "The up-coming week is going to be so important. We have to understand we have to make up ground and time is getting shorter."