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Abreu homer helps Dodgers maintain hold over Diamondbacks

Jun 27, 2007 - 6:34 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- With all the buzz about young players like James Loney and Matt Kemp, rookie Tony Abreu is doing his best not to get lost in the shuffle.

Abreu hit a pinch-hit solo homer in the top of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers posted a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Abreu, pinch hitting for reliever Jonathan Broxton (3-2) with two outs, took a 1-1 changeup from Arizona reliever Doug Slaten (3-1) over the fence in left for his first major league home run, sending Los Angeles to their sixth win in seven tries against the Diamondbacks.

"The home run was good for me, I feel good for the team that I was able to help them win and good for my bosses to see that I am ready for anything," Abreu said through an interpreter. "They see that I am prepared for anything they want me to do and they understand that whatever they want me to do, I will."

"When it left my hand I knew that I didn't throw a very good one," Slaten said. "I left it over the plate. It was up right there on a tee for him. I am just not locating my pitches against righties."

Broxton allowed one hit over two frames to get the decision before turning it over to closer Takashi Saito, who set down Arizona in order in the 10th, notching his 21st save in 22 opportunities.

With his 45th save in 48 career chances, Saito broke a major league record held by former Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, who nailed down 44 of his first 48 save opportunities.

"Just to be mentioned in the same breath as Eric Gagne and to be compared to him is really unbelievable," Saito said through an interpreter. "He is such a great pitcher. I am very honored. The record is not a record that I set alone, it is the staff's, from everyone who has helped me this year and last year. It is the work of a lot of people."

Loney added three hits, including a two-run homer, and finished with three RBI. The Dodgers' new starting first baseman is hitting .579 (11-for-19) with two homers and seven RBI over his last five contests, all of which have been on the road.

"I have been hitting them at the right spots," Loney said. "On the home run, I had it in the back of my mind that he would throw a fastball. Whenever you get the opportunity to play, you want to cash in on it. I just want to play as hard as I can and show them what I can do."

Los Angeles and Arizona each recovered from sub-par starting pitching, as the Dodgers' Chad Billingsley and Diamondbacks' Edgar Gonzalez each surrendered five runs over four innings. Both bullpens shut out the opposition from the fifth inning on until Abreu connected on his go-ahead hit.

"The way that ball was traveling early in the ballgame, it is good to come out here with a win," Dodger manager Grady Little said. "In the course of the game, someone is going to have a chance to contribute. You need 25 people to win a game. Today, we needed four or five pitchers, three or four pinch hitters and the starters."

The Diamondbacks did not place a runner into scoring position once Billingsley left the contest, whereas the Dodgers were able to reach second three times against Arizona's relievers.

Mark Reynolds blasted his first homer in the month of June for the Diamondbacks, who fell to 3-4 in extra-inning contests this season. Eric Byrnes added his seventh career leadoff home run and rookie Chris Young hit his 11th blast of the season.

"We haven't played well against them," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "This game could have gone either way tonight so I don't think it gets in your head, but tomorrow is a big game for us."