• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Blake, Martin homer as Dodgers win fifth straight

Aug 16, 2008 - 7:23 AM By Jonathan Raber PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Casey Blake picked up three hits, including a two-run homer, and Chad Billingsley earned his team-high 12th win as the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Jeff Kent collected three hits, including a single that drove in the go-ahead run. Russell Martin cemented the win with his 11th homer - a solo shot - in the eighth inning, helping Los Angeles to its fifth straight victory.

With the Dodgers facing a 3-1 deficit, Blake evened the contest with one swing of the bat in the fourth.

"He's been a great addition," Martin said of Blake. "He's kind of quiet since we got Manny (Ramirez) - he doesn't get a bunch of attention. He's a great player, he does everything well."

Nomar Garciaparra led off with a single but was erased on Martin's fielder's choice. Blake stepped in and battled to a full count before belting a hanging breaking ball from Manny Parra (9-6) over the wall in left field.

"He's a tough out," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said.

The blast was Blake's fourth since being acquired from the Cleveland Indians on July 26. The veteran third baseman has 12 RBI in his last 13 games to help spark the offense's recent surge.

Although his acquisition has been overshadowed by the arrival of Ramirez, that is perfectly fine with Blake.

"The thing about Casey Blake, he'd just assume being in the shadow," Torre said.

The Dodgers took the lead for good in the next frame, when Kent singled home Matt Kemp with a sharp grounder up the middle for a 4-3 lead.

"We didn't pitch good tonight, we didn't pitch good at all," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We made a lot of mistakes and the Dodgers being the veteran hitters that they are took advantage."

Billingsley (12-9) settled down after a rocky beginning to allow three runs and five hits in seven innings, striking out six while walking two. The hard-throwing righthander surrendered the three runs in the first two innings before retiring 16 of the next 19.

"The offense has really been producing a lot of runs lately, which makes it (easier to pitch)," said Billingsley, who improved to 3-0 with a 2.34 ERA in his last five starts.

Ramon Troncoso and Joe Beimel bridged the gap to Jonathan Broxton, who retired all four batters he faced to notch his ninth save.

"I'm prepared to go in and do anything Joe asks me to do," Broxton said. "If it's to come in and get a multiple-inning save, I'll do it. (Or) if its one inning or one out."

The Brewers took a 2-0 lead in the first as Gabe Kapler - filling in for injured slugger Ryan Braun - homered to deep left.

"It was a mistake pitch, he handled it well and he hit it out," Billingsley said.

Milwaukee added a run in the next inning on Jason Kendall's single past a drawn-in infield.

Parra, who is winless in five outings, allowed four runs and 10 hits while striking out six and walking four in 5 2/3 innings.