Derek Lowe went seven strong innings as Casey Blake and Manny each had three hits to lead the Dodgers past the Pirates for their second straight win.
The Dodgers put up a quick lead with four runs in the second, triggered by Blake’s leadoff solo homerun after missing yesterday’s game for a stiff lower back. The bases were then jammed, with the help of a safe call on Lowe’s bunt. Russell Martin then knocked in a run with a sac fly. Andre Ethier and Manny each picked up an RBI, with Ethier singling and Manny doubling. The next inning, Blake tripled and scored on Blake DeWitt’s sac fly. Blake then picked up his second RBI in the sixth for an insurance run, he fell a double short of the cycle with his last AB being a groundout.
Lowe pitched his way to his 14th win, giving up just one run on five hits while walking none and striking out three. He also got on base in the rallying second inning and came around to score a run. Park, Beimel, and Broxton all saw work out of the bullpen.
The Dodgers have now won 14 of 16 and are a season-high 7 games above .500. They can make it eight and clinch the series in tomorrow’s game, with Chad Billingsley taking the mound to face lefty Zach Duke. Billingsley is going for his 16th win, and hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in his last 12 straight starts. Duke is 5-14 and gave up four runs in six innings against the Dodgers back in April.
