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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dodgers have power surge against Giants


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Dodgers' Ronnie Belliard hit a grand slam off San Francisco's Brad Penny in the first. Los Angeles won, 12-1.

CHRIS CARLSON | Associated Press

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LOS ANGELES — Jon Garland was worried about being accepted by his new teammates after a late-season trade to the Dodgers. They're more than happy to have him now.

Ronnie Belliard hit a grand slam, Matt Kemp and James Loney added back-to-back drives off former teammate Brad Penny and Los Angeles routed the San Francisco Giants, 12-1, yesterday.

Garland (11-11) gave up an unearned run and seven hits in eight innings. The right-hander was acquired from Arizona on Aug. 31.

"It's nice to pitch a game and not have to worry," he said. "I'm starting to be part of this team a little more each day. They put in so much work since the beginning of spring training. Then to get new players in September, I've been on the other side of that and it's weird."

The Dodgers are five games ahead of Colorado in the NL West. The Giants are 2 1/2 back of the wild card-leading Rockies.

Penny (10-9) signed with the Giants on Aug. 31. He spent five years in Los Angeles before being traded to Boston last year. Penny gave up seven runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

ROCKIES 10, DIAMONDBACKS 4:

Troy Tulowitzki homered for a career-best fourth game in a row, Jason Giambi hit his first home run since coming to Colorado and the visiting Rockies beat Arizona. Giambi, who signed with Colorado on Aug. 24, had a three-run shot as a pinch hitter in a five-run ninth.

BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 4:

Javier Vazquez outpitched an ailing Pedro Martinez, and host Atlanta snapped Philadelphia's six-game winning streak. Vazquez (14-9) allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings. Martinez (5-1) left after three innings because of neck stiffness.

BREWERS 7, ASTROS 2:

Jeff Suppan pitched seven strong innings and Prince Fielder set the Milwaukee record for RBIs in a season as the host Brewers beat Houston. Suppan (7-10) gave up five hits and struck out seven. Fielder's sacrifice fly in the eighth gave him 127 RBIs.

CARDINALS 2, CUBS 1:

Brendan Ryan hit a homer and singled in the winning run in the ninth inning, helping host St. Louis beat Chicago. St. Louis had three singles off Carlos Marmol (2-4) in the ninth, including Ryan's liner to left with runners on first and third.

MARLINS 3, REDS 2:

Pinch-hitter Ross Gload connected for a two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Ricky Nolasco pitched seven sharp innings for visiting Florida. Nolasco (12-9) allowed two runs and four hits.

METS 3, NATIONALS 2:

Tim Redding pitched splendidly into the eighth and host New York ended its six-game losing streak. Redding (3-6) gave up two runs in seven-plus innings.

PADRES 2, PIRATES 1:

Henry Blanco hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to lead visiting San Diego to the victory. Blanco's fly to deep center off Denny Bautista came with the bases loaded.