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Manny ties Mantle, Kemp lifts Dodgers in 10th

Jul 11, 2009 - 9:26 AM By COLIN FLY AP Sports Writer

MILWAUKEE(AP) -- Manny Ramirez was hardly excited about matching Mickey Mantle on the career home run chart.

"I don't play for records," the Dodgers' slugger said. "I go and enjoy the game, you know?"

Long after Ramirez's 536th homer tied him with Mantle for 15th place, Matt Kemp hit a 10th-inning grand slam and made a fantastic catch for the final out to lead Los Angeles over the struggling Milwaukee Brewers 12-8 on Friday night.

"It feels good, but it's just like another home run," said Ramirez, who was distracted watching film of at-bats against the Phillies and swinging his arms gently through an imaginary strike zone. "It makes me proud, but like I said it's just another home run that I hit. I didn't even know I tied him."

The Dodgers rallied against Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning, then won it in the 10th. Casey Blake drove in Ramirez with a triple, and Kemp's slam broke it open moments later.

Afterward, the Dodgers even cheered on Jonathan Sanchez and their division rivals while the San Francisco Giants pitcher worked to complete his no-hitter. Kemp stopped mid-sentence as Sanchez finished the seventh inning with a strikeout.

"I want to see it," Kemp said, trying to shoo reporters away so he could watch on a clubhouse television.

Andre Ethier, James Loney and Russell Martin also homered for the Dodgers (55-31), who will enter the All-Star break with the best record in the majors.

Ramirez continued his torrid pace since returning from a 50-game drug suspension, hitting a two-run shot in the sixth.

"Manny's a special talent. He's a special player. So was Mickey, obviously," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "I know there's going to be some questions for the rest of his career. I'm not sure you can question how many he hits, it's how far they go. I think that's really what affects it more than anything else."

With two on in the 10th, Kemp made a running, over-the-shoulder grab of Jason Kendall's drive to deep center with his back to home plate, similar to Willie Mays' famous catch in the 1954 World Series.

"I was messing around with it in batting practice today," said Kemp, who ran up the wall for show after the catch. "I guess I thought I'd use it in the game."

Torre joked it was more like Wesley Snipes' character in Major League: "He comes in and says, 'Willie Mays Hayes."'

Hoffman gave up a tying single to Mark Loretta for his second blown save this year. Ramon Troncoso (3-0) struck out Ryan Braun with the potential winning run at second to end the ninth before Ramirez, Kemp and the rest of the Dodgers scored six times off Carlos Villanueva (2-6) in the 10th.

Milwaukee answered with two runs off struggling Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton before Kemp's catch ended it.

Giants 8, Padres 0=

At San Francisco, Sanchez pitched the majors' first no-hitter this season - and nearly had a perfect game. The only runner he allowed came on an error by third baseman Juan Uribe in the eighth.

The 26-year-old left-hander returned to the rotation after a nearly three-week demotion to the bullpen and only got the call because 303-game winner Randy Johnson went on the disabled list this week.

Aaron Rowand saved the gem with a leaping catch at the center-field fence to rob pinch-hitter Edgar Gonzalez for the second out of the ninth inning.

With his father cheering in the stands, Sanchez (3-8) threw a called third strike past Everth Cabrera to end the Giants' 13th no-hitter and first since John Montefusco did it on Sept. 29, 1976, at Atlanta.

It was Sanchez's first complete game in 51 major league starts. He struck out a career-best 11.

Diamondbacks 8, Marlins 0=

At Phoenix, All-Star Dan Haren threw his second career shutout and Felipe Lopez hit a three-run homer.

One night after blowing a seven-run lead - the biggest collapse in team history - the Diamondbacks jumped to a 7-0 fourth-inning cushion against starter Ricky Nolasco (6-7), who lost for the first time since June 7.

Haren (9-5) threw a four-hitter for his third complete game this season and ninth of his career. Haren struck out 10 and walked one and lowered his NL best ERA to 2.01 as the Diamondbacks won for the sixth time in seven games.

Astros 6, Nationals 5=

At Houston, Geoff Blum drove in Miguel Tejada with a bases-loaded single in the ninth and Houston rallied after Roy Oswalt left in the seventh with numbness in two fingers on his pitching hand. Michael Bourn drove in three runs to help the Astros (43-43) reach .500 for the first time since they were 1-1 on April 7.

Braves 4, Rockies 1=

At Denver, Derek Lowe (8-7) pitched six strong innings and Garret Anderson and Diory Hernandez hit two-run doubles for Atlanta. Todd Helton homered for the Rockies, who had won four straight.

Reds 3, Mets 0=

At New York, Bronson Arroyo (9-8) threw a four-hitter for his second career shutout, and Joey Votto and Laynce Nix homered.

The injury-depleted Mets lost for the sixth time in seven games and 11th in 14. They have three shutout losses in their last six games, mustering only four singles in each of them. They did not get a runner to second base against Arroyo.

Phillies 3, Pirates 2=

At Philadelphia, Joe Blanton (6-4) pitched into the eighth inning and Jayson Werth hit a two-run double on the day he was selected to his first All-Star team, as an injury replacement for Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. The Phillies have won seven of eight, all at home.

Pittsburgh's Zach Duke (8-8) tossed his third complete game this season, allowing five hits, but lost for the fourth time in five decisions.

Cardinals 8, Cubs 3=

At Chicago, Albert Pujols hit his 32nd homer and Ryan Ludwick drove in four runs to back Chris Carpenter (7-3). Pujols and Ludwick both reached base four times. Pujols had two RBIs to reach 85 and hit his first triple of the season. Derrek Lee hit a three-run homer for the Cubs.