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Rowand helps Giants edge Dodgers

Aug 10, 2008 - 6:23 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Jeff Kent continued to torment his former team, but not as much as Dave Roberts.

Roberts went 3-for-3 with two doubles and Aaron Rowand got the game-winning single to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Kent drilled a 1-0 offering from Tyler Walker (4-6) into left-field stands in the top of the 10th, staking Los Angeles to a 2-1 lead.

But San Francisco rallied in the bottom of the frame and lit up closer Jonathan Broxton (2-3).

Roberts led off with a double and moved to third on Randy Winn's single. Roberts came in on a fielder's choice to tie the score and San Francisco loaded the bases when Broxton hit Ivan Ochoa with a pitch.

"That was a lot of fun," Roberts said. "The energy tonight was the energy I remember when I was a Dodger playing against the Giants. For me to get the opportunity tonight to come in and be productive and win a baseball game makes me feel good."

Broxton then struck out Bengie Molina before Rowand's game-winning single skipped past the right side of a drawn-in infield.

"Anytime you get an opportunity to get a walk-off, game-winning hit, it's one of the most exciting moments of your career," Rowand said. "I'm sure most every player you talk to will remember almost every single one of their walk-off, game-winning hits, so it was special."

"I tried to make a perfect pitch (to Rowand)," Broxton said. "Maybe I shouldn't have. I was just trying to get him out, but he got me. You have to tip your hat to him. It's hard to swallow anytime you give it up. I just have to come back ready tomorrow."

Broxton had converted his first seven save opportunities since taking over the closer's role with Takashi Saito on the disabled list.

Despite the blown save, Los Angeles manager Joe Torre insists he is not worried about Broxton.

"He certainly didn't try and guide the ball or anything," Torre said. "He probably got the ball over the plate to Roberts for the base hit, but aside from that, the chopper over the mound - I didn't see anything different from him. He threw hard from start to finish."

Roberts, who missed most of the season with a knee injury, entered the game with just six hits - none for extra bases - and two RBI in 37 at-bats.

"The biggest key tonight was Doc (Dave Roberts)," Rowand said. "He got that double to lead off the inning and everybody was like, here we go. We're in this thing. We don't want just that one run, we want to get another one."

Kent's home run was a milestone, tying Carlton Fisk for 63rd place on the career charts with No. 375. The veteran infielder also tied Mickey Mantle with 1,509 career RBI, good for 47th place on the list.

San Francisco improved to 7-4 in extra innings game and won its 19th come-from behind game of the year.

"That's a great win - hard fought ballgame," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "They take the lead in the 10th and we're facing their closer and we come back to win it.

"Roberts - what a night he had coming in late. Huge night there for us."

Starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda had helped the Dodgers get on the board in the second. Los Angeles loaded the bases against Kevin Correia with two outs. Kuroda slapped a single to right field, good for a 1-0 lead. Correia needed 29 pitches to escape the inning and got Matt Kemp to fly out to end the threat.

Correia went six innings allowing one run and six hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Fred Lewis tied the game at 1-1 on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning, scoring Roberts, who doubled to lead off the frame

Kuroda worked out a bases-loaded jam with one out in the eighth.

"He was great," Torre said. "He was out there on the hot coals there in the eighth inning and went through two tough guys - the fourth and fifth hitters - and it was a great game for him. Hopefully he can be that way the rest of the year for us."

Molina popped up to shallow center and the righthander struck out Rowand to end the threat.