Dodgers down Padres to gain ground for NL wild card

Sep 13, 2007, 5:37 GMT

Los Angeles, CA - James Loney was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer as Los Angeles downed San Diego, 6-1, at Chavez Ravine.

Jeff Kent also homered for the Dodgers, who snapped a two-game skid and moved within 2 1/2 games of San Diego in the NL wild card race.

'I have been selective lately,' Loney said. 'I have been lucky to hit the ball hard lately.'

Chad Billingsley (11-4) allowed just one run on five hits in six solid innings to pick up the win. Four different relievers combined for three innings of scoreless relief to finish things.

'We are 2 1/2 games back and we are still in this,' Billingsley said. 'I always thrive in pressure situations. I kept the ball down in the zone and made good pitches.'

Khalil Greene and Kevin Kouzmanoff each had three hits apiece for the Padres, who have lost five of seven games but remain 2 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers, Colorado and Philadelphia for the NL wild card.

Justin Germano (7-10) was touched for six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits in five innings en route to his third consecutive loss. Germano is now just 1-7 over his past 11 outings.

The Dodgers jumped on top with a run in the first. Loney got on with a one-out double to right and advanced to third when Brian Giles flubbed it. Russell Martin then chased Loney home with a ground ball to second.

LA added another run in the third. Rafael Furcal slapped a one-out single up the middle, swiped second and crossed the plate on Juan Pierre's RBI single.

The Padres got on the board in the fourth. San Diego loaded the bases thanks to a Greene double and a pair of walks to Kouzmanoff and Michael Barrett. Greene scored when Terrmel Sledge grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.

The Dodgers gained some breathing room in the fourth when Loney hit his two- run homer. Matt Kemp led off with an infield single and stole second before Loney belted his 11th homer of the year over the wall in right.

Los Angeles put things away with two more runs in the sixth. First, Kent led off with his 20th homer of the year. Loney followed with a single to center and the Padres went to the bullpen, calling on Justin Hampson. But, Martin greeted the reliever with a run-scoring double to make it a 6-1 game.

Game Notes

Germano is 0-4 in five career games against Los Angeles and 0-3 this season... San Diego is 10-7 against the Dodgers this season...Kent had hit 20 or more home runs in 12 different major league seasons.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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