National League roundup

[May 07, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Joe Torre has warned his players about letting a record home start go to their heads.

There were a few satisfied grins in the clubhouse after the Dodgers improved to 13-0 at home, breaking the modern major league record previously held by the 1911 Detroit Tigers, with a 10-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.

But Torre and his players would rather reduce this achievement to a mere footnote by winning their second straight NL West title and first World Series since 1988.

"I don't think anybody was really focused on the streak to begin with. We're focused on getting wins," said winning pitcher Clayton Kershaw. "It's more important to be building a lead in the division than to try and break a record. But it's definitely a cool thing to accomplish as a team. It just goes to show how well everybody's playing right now."

Kershaw (1-2) allowed a run and four hits over five innings and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first.

Rafael Furcal scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning on a bases-loaded walk to Andre Ethier, and the Dodgers broke it open with seven in the sixth, including a two-run double by Manny Ramirez and a two-run single by James Loney.

Torre is thankful his message has been getting across.

"I'm not going to talk to the players about the streak, because there's 162 games in a season," he said. "You certainly don't want to get involved in something like, `All right, if we win tonight, it's 13 in a row and now you can exhale. Now there's nothing else we need to do.' -- and then you lose six in a row."

The 1911 Tigers were 51-25 at home, but a 38-40 road record left them 13 1/2 games out of first place at the end. Playing in Bennett Field, their home attendance for the entire season was 484,988. The Dodgers already have surpassed that total by 71,608.

"I'm sure these guys enjoy being the team that owns the streak all by themselves -- and maybe like the 1911 Tigers, not be around when it's broken," said Torre, whose cap from the game will be sent to Cooperstown, according to a team official.

The Dodgers won their seventh straight and are a majors-best 21-8, matching their best start since 1977, when they started 23-6 and won an NL pennant in Tommy Lasorda's first season as manager.

Ryan Zimmerman extended his franchise-record hitting streak to 24 games for the Nationals, who lost at Dodger Stadium for the 10th straight time since May, 2005, and own the majors' worst record at 7-18.

Mets 1, Phillies 0

At New York, Johan Santana struck out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball, and the Mets scratched out a run on Pedro Feliz's throwing error.

The Phillies wasted an excellent performance from previously struggling starter Chan Ho Park, who allowed one hit in six shutout innings.

Santana (4-1) lowered his ERA to 0.91 and won 1-0 for the second time in six starts.

Braves 8, Marlins 6

At Miami, Garret Anderson's first three RBIs this season helped Atlanta end a four-game losing streak.

Chipper Jones and Omar Infante drove in two runs apiece, and Derek Lowe (4-1) won his third start in a row despite giving up six runs in five innings.

Jorge Cantu tied a career high with five RBIs for the Marlins.

Cardinals 4, Pirates 2

At St. Louis, Albert Pujols homered for the fourth time in five games and Chris Duncan's two-run triple in the fourth inning was the go-ahead hit as the Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak.

Pujols went 4 for 4 and is batting .611 (11 for 18) with two homers and three RBIs against the Pirates in five games this season.

Pirates starter Zach Duke (3-3) gave up four runs in 5 1-3 innings.

Kyle McClellan (2-1) allowed a hit and a walk in 1 1-3 innings and Ryan Franklin earned his eighth save.

Cubs 6, Astros 3

At Houston, Rich Harden pitched into the eighth inning and Reed Johnson hit a bases-loaded triple for Chicago.

Aramis Ramirez added a solo home run for the Cubs, who have won five of six.

Harden (3-1) allowed his first run in the fourth before retiring the next 10 batters.

Mike Hampton (1-3) allowed seven hits and five runs with four walks in 5 1-3 innings.

Rockies 11, Giants 1

At Denver, Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven strong innings to get his first win in a month for Colorado.

Jimenez (2-4), who also had two hits, had not won since beating Arizona on April 7. He allowed five hits while striking out six.

Randy Johnson (2-3), in search of his 298th career win, was roughed up for seven runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Brewers 15, Reds 3

At Cincinnati, Ryan Braun hit his second career grand slam for the Brewers off Bronson Arroyo, who couldn't make it through the second inning.

J.J. Hardy also had a three-run homer off Arroyo (4-2), who failed to retire a batter in the second inning and left with a 9-0 deficit. It matched the shortest start of the right-hander's career.

Milwaukee's Manny Parra (1-4) ended a four-game losing streak with six innings of two-run ball.

Diamondbacks 3, Padres 1

At San Diego, Justin Upton hit two home runs, including a two-run shot off Jake Peavy, to lead Arizona.

With John Garland (3-1) and two relievers combining on a five-hitter, the Diamondbacks snapped a three-game losing streak. San Diego lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Peavy (2-4) lost his third straight decision despite striking out 12.

[Associated Press]

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