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Ethier's two-run double gives Dodgers 4-3 win

Jun 6, 2009 - 12:48 PM LOS ANGELES(AP) -- Over their last five games, the Los Angeles Dodgers have scored just four runs in 35 innings against opponents' starting pitchers. Amazingly, they've won three of them - each by one-run.

One night after Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels held the Dodgers to five hits in a complete-game shutout, 46-year-old left-hander Jamie Moyer pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, allowing two runs and leaving with a one-run lead.

But Brad Lidge blew the save for the fifth time this season after a costly error by third baseman Pedro Feliz, and the Dodgers pulled out a 4-3 victory Friday night that ended the Phillies' seven-game winning streak.

"It's just persistence," said Andre Ethier, whose two-out, bases-loaded double in the ninth drove in the tying and winning runs. "We kept waiting for that door to open for us, and we had to take advantage of it. Fortunately we were able to get a couple of guys on base and have an error bounce our way. We were able to turn it in our favor and capitalize."

Casey Blake started the two-out rally with a single, James Loney walked and Russell Martin reached when Feliz botched his routine grounder. Ethier then lined a fastball into the right field corner on Lidge's next pitch, giving the defending NL West champions their fifth walkoff win of the season and improving the best record in the majors to 38-19

"He's a slider guy who likes to keep his pitches down, so that's going to take something out of his game - with the bases loaded and two outs," Ethier said. "You look for something else, and that is what I got."

Lidge (0-3) has converted only 13 of his 18 save chances, after going 41 for 41 last season and 7 for 7 in the postseason to help the Phillies win their second World Series title.

"The season hasn't gone quite as smooth as last year. I know that, but I've been feeling great," the two-time All-Star said. "I felt really good again tonight. It's frustrating. You want everything to go well, then something like that happens."

Tuesday night against Arizona, the Dodgers scored five runs in the eighth to pull win 6-5 after Dan Haren held them to two hits over seven - including a homer and a double by Ethier. The next night, They beat the Diamondbacks 1-0 despite getting only four hits in six innings against Jon Garland.

Manager Joe Torre couldn't say enough about his team's resilience after the Dodgers' latest dramatic win.

"These guys, they never surprise me," Torre remarked. "The other day with the five-run eighth inning, then tonight with just the total resilience and some great relief pitching. As long as there are 27 outs in a game we're going to try to play every one of them."

Jonathan Broxton (6-0) got the win, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth.

Astros 9, Pirates 1=

Carlos Lee hit a grand slam and Mike Hampton beat visiting Pittsburgh for the ninth straight time.

Hampton (4-4) struck out five and allowed five hits in seven innings, holding the Pirates to one run for the second time in a week.

Lee's 13th career grand slam off Evan Meek capped a seven-run sixth inning for Houston. Humberto Quintero drove in two runs with his first career triple earlier in the inning off Jeff Karstens (2-3).

Cubs 2, Reds 1=

At Cincinnati, Carlos Zambrano homered and pitched into the seventh inning to earn his 100th career victory.

Zambrano (4-2) didn't allow a hit until Adam Rosales lined a single to left with one out in the fifth inning. He gave up two hits and a season-high five walks in 6 2-3 innings, and struck out seven.

The Cubs pushed across a run in the first on Ryan Theriot's one-out infield hit - one of his two hits after going 1 for 10 on he road trip with three walks.

Micha Owings (3-7) left after allowing five hits and two runs with three walks and a season high-tying six strikeouts in six innings.

Mets 3, Nationals 1, 10 innings=

At Washington, David Wright's two-run double, his fourth hit of the night, broke a 10th-inning tie and the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak.

Luis Castillo led off the 10th with a single off Joel Hanrahan (0-3) and Carlos Beltran walked. Wright then lined a 2-2 pitch into the gap in right-center to score both runners and match single-game high for hits.

Sean Green (1-2) worked a perfect ninth for the victory and Francisco Rodriguez improved to 15 for 15 in save opportunities.

Brewers 4, Braves 0=

At Atlanta, Yovani Gallardo and Carlos Villanueva combined for a two-hitter, and rookie Mat Gamel drove in three runs for the NL Central-leading Brewers.

Gallardo (6-2) walked four with six strikeouts and gave up no singles in eight innings.

Jair Jurrjens (5-3) suffered in first loss in seven starts.

Giants 2, Marlins 1=

At Miami, Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer, Barry Zito ended a four-start losing skid and the Giants held on after another shaky ninth by Brian Wilson.

Zito (2-6) went five-plus innings, allowing one run on four hits to get his first win since May 8 at Los Angeles.

Chris Volstad (4-5) worked six innings, giving up two runs on eight hits for Florida.

Rockies 11, Cardinals 4=

Jorge De La Rosa ended a six-game losing streak to start the season and had his first RBI on a bases-loaded walk in a breakaway nine-run seventh inning for visiting Colorado.

Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Ryan Ludwick homered for the Cardinals, who wasted a strong outing by Adam Wainwright (5-4).

Rockies manager Jim Tracy put De La Rosa (1-6) on notice before the game, and he allowed one run on four hits in seven innings.

Diamondbacks 8, Padres 0=

At San Diego, Doug Davis pitched three-hit ball over six innings to win for the first time in more than five weeks.

Davis (3-6) struck out five and walked four in his first win since April 29. Daniel Schlereth, Esmerling Vasquez and Chad Qualls finished the four-hitter for Arizona's fifth shutout.

Chris Snyder drove in three runs, including two during the Diamondbacks' four-run fifth inning that gave Davis a 5-0 lead.

Chad Gaudin (2-4) allowed five runs on six hits in five innings.