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Tomko solid as Dodgers sweep Giants

Jul 16, 2007 - 1:39 AM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Brett Tomko hurled five solid innings and Rafael Furcal sparked a decisive sixth-inning rally as the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the rival San Francisco Giants with a 5-3 victory on Sunday afternoon.

The Dodgers remained unbeaten at AT&T Park this season, where they have won 10 straight and 15 of 19 overall against the Giants, who have won just 10 of their last 30 outings.

It was a forgettable series for San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds, who remained stuck at 751 home runs, five shy of passing Hank Aaron's all-time record.

The seven-time National League MVP went hitless for the series (0-for-11) and is hitless in his last 17 at-bats. With two runners on base and trailing, 5-3, in the seventh inning, Bonds struck out against Joe Beimel to end the frame.

In an emotional outburst, Bonds had this to say after going 0-for-5 in back-to-back games for only the fourth time in his career.

"It's an embarrassment for me to be wearing this (bleeping) uniform 'cause of the way I'm playing," Bonds said. "There, that's it. Now go away."

After struggling through a 30-pitch first inning, Tomko (2-7) settled down and retired the side in order in the second and fourth.

The righthander retired 11 of 12 before running into trouble in the fifth. Dave Roberts singled, Ray Durham tripled to tie the game, 3-3, and was stranded when Bonds popped up into the shift.

"I had a lot of nerves going. I was glad it was a day game," Tomko said. "I got here and didn't have much time to think about it, so it was nice that it was a quick start. I threw a lot of pitches and I didn't expect to make it through five, but I had a couple quick innings. The second was pretty painless, and so it was nice to get back in the dugout and go from there."

"We were just hoping he'd be able to get out there and give us a good, solid outing, get his confidence headed in the right direction, and I think he certainly did that," Los Angeles manager Grady Little said. "He picked us up out there today. He gave us five good innings, and we were proud for him."

Little credited his pitchers for effectively handcuffing Bonds in the series.

"We didn't do much differently, but we certainly know we caught him at a good time. He's at a point where he's really trying to get it done. He will eventually, but hopefully it will be against another team," Little said.

But Tomko pitched well, allowing three runs - one earned - and four hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Three relievers combined to toss three frames, bridging the gap to Dodgers closer Takashi Saito, who record his 24th save - one day after blowing an opportunity.

"(Saturday), it was a one-run game, and I had to face Bonds, but in this situation, it was a two-run game and faced Bonds and the situation was a little bit easier to pitch to him," said Saito, who got Bonds to pop up to short for the final out of the game. "I was able to challenge him (Sunday), a lot different from (Saturday)."

Los Angeles wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the first thanks to Furcal, who singled to lead things off. Juan Pierre followed with a controversial infield single as he appeared to go out of the baseline, while trying to elude a tag by Ryan Klesko.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy argued to no avail. After a single by Russell Martin, Jeff Kent followed with a sacrifice fly to deep right center that was chased down by right fielder Fred Lewis to make it 1-0.

San Francisco bounced back to take its first lead of the series in the bottom of the frame. Roberts led off with an infield single, and Durham then reached on an error.

After Bonds popped out, Klesko walked to load the bases with two outs for Bengie Molina, who slapped a two-run single to left center.

Giants starter Noah Lowry (9-7) continued to struggle in the fourth as the Dodgers reclaimed the lead at 3-2. James Loney singled with one out, advanced to second on a fielding error by Bonds, and Matt Kemp then slammed a triple to deep right center.

Kemp then scored on another strange play as Tomko bunted to Lowry, who bobbled it and Molina was called for interference in impeding Kemp's progress.

Los Angeles charged back and chased Lowry in the sixth. Kemp hit a leadoff single and scored on Furcal's triple, and Furcal then scored on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze to make it 5-3.

"I feel good about the team. Our pitching staff is pitching really well, our bullpen is good and our starters are doing a great job," said Martin, who liked the way his pitchers approached Bonds in the series.

"With Barry, you just have to see how he feels, and we were careful the first couple games and then just being aggressive and going right after him. Barry Bonds, he's human, sometimes he's not swinging the bat well, and we pretty much just got lucky."

Lowry yielded five runs and 10 hits with two strikeouts and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Roberts had three hits for the Giants, who have lost five of their last seven contests.

"You can't have a worse start than what we have and we know it," Bochy said. "To get swept here at home, it shouldn't happen. We are better than this. There's no way this should happen."

Molina drove in a pair of runs for the Giants in the first inning and now shares the team RBI lead with Durham at 47 apiece.