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Dodgers snap Davis' spell, down Diamondbacks

Sep 15, 2007 - 7:21 AM LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers could not have picked a better time to break through against Doug Davis.

The Dodgers plated four runs in the fifth inning, overcoming a two-run deficit to down the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-4, on Friday.

Los Angeles (78-69) improved to 8-5 this season against National League West Division leader Arizona (83-65), which it trails by 4 1/2 games in the division. The win also allowed them to stay within 1 1/2 games of San Diego (79-67) in the wild card race.

Davis, who had not allowed an earned run in his first four career starts against the Dodgers, saw his 30 1/3-inning streak finally come to an end when hot-hitting James Loney scored Rafael Furcal in the first inning for an early 1-0 advantage. Loney had his fourth straight multiple-hit game, hitting .611 (11-for-18) over that time.

"I just didn't pitch my game tonight," Davis said. "They have been hitting the ball good lately and they did it again tonight."

With Arizona leading, 4-2, in the fifth, the Dodgers crossed the plate four times in the inning against Davis (13-12), who surrendered six runs - four earned - and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Juan Pierre walked to lead off the frame and moved to third on a single from Loney.

Jeff Kent pushed across Pierre with an RBI double-play groundout to cut the Arizona lead to 4-3. Nomar Garciaparra took Davis' next pitch over the fence in right-center for his seventh homer of the season.

"It's good to see him hit the ball hard when he's (Garciaparra) in the lineup," Dodger manager Grady Little said. "Were going to need him to hit like this the rest of the way because he can carry a team."

After Russell Martin reached base when Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew could not field his grounder up the middle cleanly, Matt Kemp lined a triple just over first baseman Conor Jackson to score Martin and give the Dodgers their first lead at 5-4. Andre Ethier followed with an RBI single to extend the advantage to 6-4.

"That was the inning we needed and it ended up being enough for us to win," Loney said.

Brad Penny (16-4) became the fourth NL pitcher to reach the 16-win mark as he permitted four runs - three earned - and six hits over five frames.

"It feels good to get that many wins in a season," Penny said. "This team always puts me in a good situation to win games when I don't go out and pitch my best."

Three relievers combined to toss 2 1/3 scoreless frames before handing it over in the eighth to closer Takashi Saito, who induced a double play on his first pitch to get out of the inning and worked around a one-out walk in the ninth for his 39th save in 42 chances.

"Our guys from the bullpen just come and get guys out," Dodgers catcher Russell Martin. "He (Saito) is just one of the best closers in the game and we like our chances when he comes out in the ninth."

Mark Reynolds belted a two-run homer and finished with three RBI for the Diamondbacks, who lost for just the second time in their last nine games.