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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 7, 2009

Ethier's blast lifts Dodgers in ninth


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

The Dodgers' Andre Ethier, right, is mobbed after his walk-off three-run home run against Atlanta.

LORI SHEPLER | Associated Press

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LOS ANGELES — Andre Ethier has been making a habit of creating mob scenes at home plate at Dodger Stadium and sending opposing teams back to the dugout shaking their heads.

Ethier hit a three-run homer with no outs in the bottom of the ninth off Atlanta closer Rafael Soriano — his major league-leading fifth walkoff hit of the season — to give Los Angeles a 5-4 victory over the Braves last night.

The Dodgers recorded their 11th walkoff win and 29th come-from-behind victory to improve the best record in the majors to 67-42.

Los Angeles was facing its eight loss in 12 games before Ethier's dramatics.

"We've been struggling a little bit to play consistently and get back on track," Ethier said.

Juan Pierre led off the ninth with an infield hit. Rafael Furcal's hit-and-run single sent Pierre to third, and Ethier drove a 2-0 pitch to right field for his 23rd homer.

PHILLIES 3, ROCKIES 1

Cliff Lee pitched seven impressive innings in his home debut and Paul Bako hit a tiebreaking homer for Philadelphia. Lee (2-0) allowed one run and six hits, striking out nine in his first start at Citizens Bank Park since the Phillies acquired him from Cleveland last week.

DIAMONDBACKS 11, PIRATES 6

Alex Romero's two-run double highlighted a five-run 12th and visiting Arizona won its fifth straight. Romero's fourth hit was a double off Steven Jackson (2-2) with the bases loaded and one out in the 12th.

NATIONALS 12, MARLINS 8

Ryan Zimmerman finished a double short of the cycle, and Ronnie Belliard's tiebreaking single in the eighth helped host Washington rally from a six-run deficit. The Nationals broke an 8-all tie with four in the eighth.

PADRES 8, METS 3

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in a four-run third inning and drove in three runs, leading host San Diego over New York. Gonzalez's 29th home run and sacrifice fly in the first helped San Diego jump to a 7-0 lead.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ROYALS 8, MARINERS 2

Bruce Chen won in the major leagues for the first time since 2005 and Billy Butler hit a two-run homer for host Kansas City. Chen, who had lost his last 13 decisions, earned his first win since Oct. 2, 2005, while with Baltimore. Chen (1-6) allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

YANKEES 13, RED SOX 6

Melky Cabrera and Jorge Posada hit three-run homers and host New York beat Boston for the first time in nine games this season. Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira also connected for New York.

RANGERS 6, ATHLETICS 4

Michael Young hit his 18th homer of the season and Tommy Hunter pitched seven solid innings for visiting Texas. Hunter (4-2) gave up three runs — two earned — and three hits with a pair of walks.

ANGELS 9, WHITE SOX 5

Vladimir Guerrero hit his first home run in more than a month, and Bobby Abreu, Jeff Mathis and Erick Aybar also went deep to lead visiting Los Angeles. Ervin Santana (4-6) worked six innings for the Angels.

INDIANS 2, TWINS 1

Trevor Crowe hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning, helping host Cleveland beat Minnesota. Crowe's slicing line drive into the left-center gap off Nick Blackburn (8-6) scored Travis Hafner from second base.

TIGERS 7, ORIOLES 3

Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer in a four-run second inning, and Rick Porcello didn't give up a hit until the fifth for host Detroit. Porcello (10-7) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing only four hits.

NOTES

Basebrawl: Brewers star Prince Fielder and Dodgers pitcher Guillermo Mota were fined yesterday for their run-in. Major League Baseball will not suspend them. Mota hit Fielder in the ninth inning of a 17-4 win Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. Afterward, Fielder charged across a hallway toward the Dodgers' clubhouse but was restrained by teammates and security.

Diamondbacks: All-Star Justin Upton was placed on the 15-day disabled list by Arizona with a right oblique strain. Upton pulled up attempting to steal a base during the eighth of a 4-3 win over Pittsburgh on Wednesday.