Home runs lead LA past Cincinnati, 11-4

Published 11:56 pm Saturday, August 29, 2009

CINCINNATI — With one swing, Manny Ramirez ended his drought and started a rout.

Ramirez hit the first of Los Angeles’ four homers, and the Dodgers blew a four-run lead Saturday before powering their way to an 11-4 victory that ended the Cincinnati Reds’ longest winning streak of the season at five games.

Ramirez connected on a two-run shot in the first inning off left-hander Matt Maloney (0-3), his first homer since Aug. 11. His opposite-field shot landed in the Los Angeles bullpen and gave the Dodgers an emotional lift — he was back in the swing of things.

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‘‘We get a lift when he comes to the ballpark every day,’’ said Matt Kemp, who added a three-run homer. ‘‘His attitude is great. You can never tell if he’s struggling or hitting good.’’

On this day, most of the Dodgers were good. Rafael Furcal hit a tiebreaking solo shot in the fifth and Orlando Hudson also homered as Los Angeles pulled away. Juan Pierre added three hits, helping the Dodgers pile up 13 overall.

‘‘They didn’t hit many balls hard,’’ said Maloney, who gave up the first two homers. ‘‘Manny got just enough of it to get it out.’’

Jeff Weaver (6-4) bailed out starter Charlie Haeger, who had a tough time getting his knuckleball to work. Haeger squandered a 4-0 lead in less than three innings.

‘‘It wasn’t working very well today, that’s all,’’ Haeger said. ‘‘It’s going to happen. You live and die by it.’’

The NL West leaders improved to 21-4 against Cincinnati since 2006, their best mark against any NL team.

Reds’ boxscore

Saturday’s Game

Dodgers 11, Reds 4

Los Angeles Cincinnati

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Furcal ss 4 2 2 2 Stubbs cf 4 1 0 0

JCastro ss 0 0 0 0 Janish ss 5 1 2 2

Pierre cf-lf 5 2 3 2 Votto 1b 4 1 2 0

MRmrz lf 3 2 1 2 BPhllps 2b 4 0 3 1

Belisari p 1 0 0 0 ARosls 2b 1 0 0 0

Mota p 0 0 0 0 Rolen 3b 4 0 1 0

Kemp rf-cf 5 1 2 3 Balentn lf 4 0 1 0

Loney 1b 2 0 0 0 Gomes rf 4 0 0 0

Loretta 3b 5 1 1 0 Tatum c 4 1 1 1

Hudson 2b 3 2 2 1 Malony p 2 0 1 0

Ausms c 4 0 1 1 Sutton ph 1 0 0 0

Haeger p 0 0 0 0 Fisher p 0 0 0 0

JefWvr p 1 0 0 0 Herrer p 0 0 0 0

Troncs p 0 0 0 0 Owngs ph-p 1 0 0 0

Ethier ph-rf 2 1 1 0

Totals 35 11 13 11 Totals 38 4 11 4

Los Angeles 220 010 600 — 11

Cincinnati 004 000 000 — 4

E—Hudson (6), Tatum (1), Fisher (1). DP—Los Angeles 1, Cincinnati 1. LOB—Los Angeles 4, Cincinnati 11. 2B—Ethier (34), Janish (9), Votto (21), B.Phillips (23). HR—Furcal (7), M.Ramirez (14), Kemp (20), Hudson (9), Janish (1), Tatum (1). SB—Stubbs (2). CS—Kemp (7). S—Haeger. SF—Furcal

IP H R ER BB SO

Los Angeles

Haeger 2 1-3 4 4 4 2 3

Jef.Weaver W,6-4 3 1-3 6 0 0 1 4

Troncoso H,12 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

Belisario 2 1 0 0 0 1

Mota 1 0 0 0 0 0

Cincinnati

Maloney L,0-3 6 8 5 5 2 5

Fisher 0 4 5 5 1 0

Herrera 1 1 1 1 1 0

Owings 2 0 0 0 1 2

Fisher pitched to 5 batters in the 7th. HBP—by Jef.Weaver (Rolen). WP—Jef.Weaver. Umpires—Home, Laz Diaz; First, Eric Cooper; Second, Mike Reilly; Third, Chuck Meriwether. T—3:23. A—25,744 (42,319).