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Morris, Giants snap losing streak against Dodgers

Apr 25, 2007 - 6:02 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Matt Morris and the San Francisco Giants kept surging by ending a long drought.

Morris pitched 7 1/3 solid innings and Dave Roberts homered as the Giants beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3, snapping an eight-game losing streak to their division rival.

Randy Winn had two hits and two RBI and Rich Aurilia also drove in a run for San Francisco, which has won six straight overall.

Morris (3-0), who had gone 0-3 in his last four starts vs. Los Angeles, yielded three runs - one earned - and six hits with two walks and two strikeouts to remain unbeaten in 2007.

"They swept us last year, but last year was last year and we have a different team," Morris said. "It's good to come here and get the first win of the series under our belt."

Brad Hennessey and Jack Taschner finished the eighth and Armando Benitez worked around two hits in the ninth inning to record his fifth save in as many attempts.

"Our bullpen did an excellent job coming in and holding off their late rally," Morris said.

Roberts led off the first inning with a single and later scored on Aurilia's RBI groundout that gave the Giants a 1-0 lead.

"Roberts first at-bat was key because he got us on the board and for a pitcher to pitch with a lead is a lot easier than pitching behind," Morris said. "He is what makes our offense tick."

Winn's double in the second inning scored Ryan Klesko for a 2-0 lead.

"I just tried to hit the ball somewhere and make things happen," Winn said. "I got a good pitch to hit and I hit it hard."

With one out in the fifth, Roberts hit an 0-1 offering from Los Angeles starter Derek Lowe over the right field wall, increasing the Giants lead to 3-0.

"Lowe just misfired on a few pitches tonight, but other than that I thought he pitched good," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "He kept us in reach."

Omar Vizquel scored on a ground out by Ray Durham later in the frame and Winn also added an RBI single in the eighth.

Lowe (2-3) surrendered four runs - three earned - and nine hits with three walks in seven innings while striking out four. The veteran righthander fell to 3-5 all-time vs. San Francisco, including 0-3 in four starts at Dodger Stadium.

"I felt like I had some of my good stuff tonight but not my best," Lowe said. "I tried to pitch I think too careful in some situations and that hurt me."

Giants slugger Barry Bonds, who had homered in two straight games and three of his last four contests, was held hitless with two walks before being removed for a pinch runner in th seventh inning.

"The guys we got beat by tonight were Roberts and Winn," Little said. "We pitched to Barry carefully tonight so he wouldn't beat us."

Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent and Wilson Betemit each had an RBI for Los Angeles, which has lost two straight.