National League roundup

[August 21, 2009]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Russell Martin made all of the Los Angeles Dodgers feel good about themselves with one fat swing.

Scuffling with their confidence and a dwindling lead in the NL West, the Dodgers have been desperate for something or someone to get them going in the dog days of August.

Martin was the man.

His grand slam snapped a sixth-inning tie and boosted the Dodgers to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night in the series opener.

"It was big for us. Russell Martin needed that," manager Joe Torre said. "It broke open a tie game and just gave Russell something to go on. We all pull for each other. They know when guys are struggling and trying to find it. The fact that Russell hit it really elevated everybody's mood."

Martin was hitting just .246 this month. He went 0 for 3 against St. Louis on Wednesday and hadn't homered since July 26 against Florida. He has just four homers this season.

"There's nothing I can change in the past. I haven't had a great season so far," he said. "Hopefully, this ignites a little fire within me. We haven't been playing our best baseball lately. We believe in what we have here. It just takes a few guys to step up."

Martin launched the first pitch he saw from Angel Guzman (2-3) just over the left-field fence, breaking a 2-all tie and earning the catcher a curtain call.

The Dodgers had scored three runs or less in five of their previous seven games. They'd lost each of those five games and saw their NL West lead shrink to 3 1/2 games over Colorado.

The Cubs have their own problems, going 4-10 in their last 14 games to fall seven behind NL Central-leading St. Louis.

"That's what happens when you don't score runs," Aramis Ramirez said. "We had the pitching, but we didn't hit with men in scoring position. I can't figure it out because we've got guys in here who can do better than what we're doing right now. We've got talent. We just can't get it done."

Ronald Belisario (2-2) got two outs for his first victory since April 30. He walked one five days after coming off the 15-day DL.

Guzman took the loss, yielding four runs and three hits in one inning, while striking out one and walking one.

"I was trying to be aggressive in the strike zone and trying to get a groundball. It didn't happen, but I don't think I'm going to change my approach to the hitters," he said.

Cardinals 5, Padres 1

At San Diego, Brendan Ryan hit a grand slam and Joel Pineiro won his sixth straight decision by throwing 7 2-3 strong innings.

Ryan's first career grand slam staked Pineiro (12-9) to a 4-0 lead in the second inning as the Cardinals won for the 16th time in 21 games.

The only run Pineiro allowed was a homer to rookie Kyle Blanks.

Phillies 12, Diamondbacks 3

At Philadelphia, Jayson Werth hit his fourth home run in three games, and Ryan Howard hit a three-run shot.

Carlos Ruiz also homered for the Phillies, who won their fourth straight and eighth in nine.

Joe Blanton (8-6) went eight innings and had two singles, the first multi-hit game of his career, to become the third straight Phillies pitcher to record two hits in a game. Jamie Moyer and Cliff Lee did it Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.

Rockies 4, Nationals 1

At Washington, Carlos Gonzalez blooped an RBI double in the fifth that helped Colorado complete a three-game sweep.

Gonzalez's club record-tying streak of four games with a homer ended, but he came through for the NL wild-card leaders. Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe drove in runs to back Jason Hammel (8-7), who allowed one run and three hits in seven innings.

Braves 3, Mets 2

At New York, Kenshin Kawakami (6-9) outpitched Johan Santana (13-9), and Brian McCann hit a solo homer for Atlanta.

Omar Infante and former Mets outfielder Ryan Church also drove in runs for the Braves, who have won nine of 12 entering a three-game series against fellow playoff contender Florida.

Mets reliever Billy Wagner made his first appearance since Aug. 2, 2008, and struck out two in a perfect eighth inning. The former closer with 385 career saves had Tommy John surgery on Sept. 10.

Reds 2, Giants 1, 10 innings

At Cincinnati, Drew Stubbs hit his first career homer leading off the bottom of the 10th inning to end the Reds' five-game losing streak.

Stubbs drove a 2-0 pitch from Bob Howry (1-6) off the left-field foul screen. The 2006 first-round draft pick was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday when Willy Taveras was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Francisco Cordero (2-3) worked around a single in a scoreless 10th to pick up the win. The Reds had lost six of seven.

Astros 4, Marlins 1

At Houston, Wandy Rodriguez (12-7) limited Florida to four hits while pitching into the ninth inning to end the Marlins' streak of 10-hit games at 15.

That was the best stretch since the St. Louis Browns had one that long in 1937, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The record is 18, set by the 1922 Browns and matched by the 1925 Cleveland Indians.

[Associated Press; By BETH HARRIS]

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