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Kemp, Dodgers beat Cardinals 5-3 in 10 innings

Jul 31, 2009 - 9:30 AM By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS(AP) -- Jonathan Broxton's second shot at halting the Los Angeles Dodgers' worst slump of the season went smoothly.

Matt Kemp hit a two-run single off Todd Wellemeyer in the 10th inning and Broxton allowed only a leadoff walk before retiring the top of the St. Louis Cardinals' lineup in order in a 5-3 victory that ended a four-game losing streak Thursday night. The Dodgers, whose 63-39 record is the best in the major leagues, avoided a four-game sweep.

The Dodgers were one strike away from ending the slump a night earlier before Broxton allowed a broken-bat RBI single to Colby Rasmus and the Cardinals won 3-2 in 15 innings.

"It's just one save," said Broxton, 24 for 27 on the season. "We're going to give them up like I did last night, a little cheap broken-bat single. As a reliever you've got to bounce back the next day and be ready to go."

Kemp had three hits and Casey Blake had four, putting him at 7 for 10 the last two games following a 3 for 24 slump. More important was the clutch hitting.

The Dodgers 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position after a dismal 4-for-25 showing the first three games, in which they totaled three runs on 33 hits.

"Hopefully we can get the bats going a little bit," manager Joe Torre said. "We got a little impatient in this series."

Albert Pujols, who lined a game-winning single off Jeff Weaver in the 15th inning Wednesday night, tapped out to the mound for the final out. The Cardinals, who scored 19 runs the first three games, totaled only six hits in the finale.

"That was just a terrific series," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "We made a lot of good things happen and had a great chance tonight. They're a very good club."

Earlier in the day, the Dodgers added depth to their bullpen by acquiring former All-Star closer George Sherrill from the Baltimore Orioles for two Double-A players.

Manny Ramirez was 3 for 18 in the series with no RBIs and he's 4 for 26 in his last six games with no RBIs. Boos rained down on him throughout the game, just as they did the first three games before the New York Times reported Thursday he had tested positive for steroids in 2003.

Matt Holliday was the lone Cardinals player to reach base safely two or more times in his first seven games, getting an RBI single and his first homer for his new team in the first two at-bats. Holliday is batting .520 (13 for 25) since coming from the Athletics and is a career .396 hitter at 4-year-old Busch Stadium with six homers and 10 RBIs.

Cardinals shortstop Brendan Ryan bruised his left ankle on a foul ball in the second and was replaced by Julio Lugo. X-rays were negative but there was significant swelling and Ryan left Busch Stadium on crutches.

Giants 7, Phillies 2=

At San Francisco, Pablo Sandoval had a solo home run and a two-run double as San Francisco won its fourth straight.

Jonathan Sanchez (4-9) struck out seven in 5 2-3 innings in his first home start since throwing the team's first no-hitter in 33 years.

Phillies starter Rodrigo Lopez (3-1) was tagged for eight hits in four innings but only three of his seven runs were earned.

Mets 7, Rockies 0, 1st game=

Rockies 4, Mets 2, 2nd game=

At New York, Jorge De La Rosa (9-7) set a franchise record by winning his seventh consecutive start and Colorado earned a split in the day-night doubleheader and snapped New York's five-game winning streak.

The Mets won the opener 7-0 behind Johan Santana (12-8), who struck out eight in seven sharp innings. Angel Berroa had a two-run double in New York's five-run second and David Wright also drove in two runs.

Braves 6, Marlins 3, 10 innings=

At Miami, Brian McCann's three-run homer in the 10th inning gave Atlanta the victory.

Nate McLouth led off the Braves' 10th against Luis Ayala (1-3) with a single. After a sacrifice and an intentional walk to Chipper Jones, McCann hit a 2-2 pitch over the right-center field wall.

Peter Moylan (3-2) worked the ninth for Atlanta and Rafael Soriano recorded his 15th save in 17 chances.

Cubs 12, Astros 3=

At Chicago, Kevin Hart won his third straight start and moments after the game was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a five-player deal that landed John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny with the Cubs.

Jake Fox and Milton Bradley hit back-to-back homers and the Cubs beat the Astros for their 11th win in 14 games since the All-Star break.

Padres 7, Reds 4=

At Cincinnati, rookie Will Venable hit a three-run homer to help Tim Stauffer earn his first win in almost three years and the romped to a win over the reeling Reds.

Venable drove in a career-high four runs and had four hits.

Luis Rodriguez and Chase Headley each added two hits behind Stauffer (1-2), who allowed seven hits and one run in seven innings for his first win since beating Los Angeles 4-2 on Aug. 21, 2006.

Brewers 7, Nationals 5=

At Milwaukee, Yovani Gallardo (10-7) struck out 11 in seven innings and Mike Cameron slid under catcher Wil Nieves' tag for the go-ahead run in the seventh, lifting the Brewers to a victory over the Nationals.

Prince Fielder hit his 25th homer and Craig Counsell added a homer and three RBIs for the Brewers, who won consecutive games for the first time this month after a miserable 8-16 start to July.