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Martin, five-run seventh power Dodgers past Cubs

Jun 8, 2008 - 12:51 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Russell Martin and the Los Angeles Dodgers slowed down Carlos Zambrano.

Martin went 3-for-4 with three RBI as the Los Angeles Dodgers erupted for five runs in the seventh inning en route to a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.

Matt Kemp belted a three-run homer and Derek Lowe pitched seven solid innings for Los Angeles, which has won two straight following a three-game losing streak.

The Dodgers prevented the Cubs (39-24) from becoming the first team in the majors to reach 40 wins and sent Zambrano (8-2) to his first loss since April 11 - a span of 12 outings.

With Los Angeles trailing, 2-0, in the bottom of the sixth, Jeff Kent led off with a base hit before Martin belted a slider from Zambrano over the center field wall to knot the game.

"Zambrano was throwing the ball really well, but he finally made a mistake up in the zone," Martin said. "I took a good swing and it went out."

After Chicago briefly took a 3-2 lead on an RBI single by Zambrano in the top of the seventh, Los Angeles sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom half to take control.

Andre Ether's run-scoring single tied it at 4-4 and, two batters later, Martin plated a run with a base hit

to give the Dodgers a one-run edge.

"We kept battling and they made a big error," Martin said of third baseman Aramis Ramirez's throwing error. "Sometimes you need things to go your way a little bit. Today was one of those days."

Later in the frame, Kemp launched his three-run shot to cap the five-run outburst.

"We seemed to self-destruct that inning," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We gave them too many outs in the seventh. The amazing thing is, if Carlos just gets through that inning, we're pretty well set up in the bullpen with our short people. It just didn't happen."

Zambrano, who surrendered a season-high seven runs and 13 hits with a walk and six strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings, threw a temper tantrum in the tunnel leading to the clubhouse after Piniella replaced him.

"It was frustration, that's all," Piniella said. "He competes and wants to win. As long as he doesn't hurt himself, that's all we care about."

Meanwhile, Lowe (4-5) allowed three runs, six hits and two walks en route to his second straight victory. The 6-6 righthander, who struck out four, did not allow a hit until the top of the fifth inning.

"Having played this game as long as I have, and realizing you're going to go through good and bad times, just don't panic," Lowe said. "If you don't panic, you're going to find ways to come out on top."

Alfonso Soriano belted a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Cubs.