GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (58-55) at CINCINNATI (49-64)

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - PITCHING CHANGE
LOS: TAKASHI SAITO (1-0, 1.48) STARTING THE 11TH
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 5, CINCINNATI 4

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J VALENTIN (.267, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: T Saito relieved S Proctor.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 5
CINCINNATI 4 BOTTOM, 11TH

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: J Valentin (.267, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Ellison ran for J Valentin.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, J ELLISON ON FIRST, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: LA DODGERS 5
CINCINNATI 4 BOTTOM, 11TH

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E Encarnacion (.268, 2-FOR-4)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
CINCINNATI 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

10 11 R H E
-- -- - - -
LA DODGERS 0 1 5 14 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 4 11 0 (FINAL 11)

BATTERIES: LOS - BRETT TOMKO, RUDY SEANEZ (7TH), JOE BEIMEL (7TH), JONATHAN
BROXTON (8TH), SCOTT PROCTOR (9TH), TAKASHI SAITO (11TH) AND
RUSSELL MARTIN

CIN - PHILLIP DUMATRAIT, EDDIE GUARDADO (7TH), JARED
BURTON (8TH), MIKE STANTON (8TH), VICTOR SANTOS (10TH) AND
JAVIER VALENTIN

HOME RUNS: LOS - RAFAEL FURCAL (5) OFF VICTOR SANTOS IN THE 11TH, 0 ON

CIN - ALEX GONZALEZ (16) OFF BRETT TOMKO IN THE 2ND, 1 ON</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL 11
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
- - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
CINCINNATI 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0

10 11 R H E
-- -- - - -
LA DODGERS 0 1 5 14 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 4 11 0 (FINAL 11)

BATTERIES: LOS - BRETT TOMKO, RUDY SEANEZ (7TH), JOE BEIMEL (7TH), JONATHAN
BROXTON (8TH), SCOTT PROCTOR (9TH), TAKASHI SAITO (11TH) AND
RUSSELL MARTIN

CIN - PHILLIP DUMATRAIT, EDDIE GUARDADO (7TH), JARED
BURTON (8TH), MIKE STANTON (8TH), VICTOR SANTOS (10TH) AND
JAVIER VALENTIN


WP - SCOTT PROCTOR (1-0)
LP - VICTOR SANTOS (1-4)
SAVE - TAKASHI SAITO (28)

HOME RUNS: LOS - RAFAEL FURCAL (5) OFF VICTOR SANTOS IN THE 11TH, 0 ON

CIN - ALEX GONZALEZ (16) OFF BRETT TOMKO IN THE 2ND, 1 ON


TIME: 3:35 ATT: 25,965

PROBABLES: SDG - WILFREDO LEDEZMA (0-2, 5.84)
CIN - MATT BELISLE (6-8, 5.26)

PROBABLES: LOS - BRAD PENNY (13-3, 2.66)
STL - ADAM WAINWRIGHT (10-8, 4.35)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (5) VS CINCINNATI (4) - FINAL IN 11 INNINGS

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 5 2 1 1 1 1 6 .280
R Martin c 6 0 3 0 0 1 0 .299
O Saenz 1b 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 .182
R Seanez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Broxton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-L Gonzalez ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .279
S Proctor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-M Lieberthal ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255
T Saito p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Kent 2b 4 0 0 1 0 0 4 .297
M Kemp rf 5 0 1 0 0 1 3 .317
D Young lf 4 1 4 0 0 0 0 .545
A Ethier pr-lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .296
J Pierre cf 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 .278
R Martinez 3b 3 0 1 2 1 1 2 .182
B Tomko p 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .000
a-N Garciaparra ph 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .281
J Loney 1b 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .323

Totals 42 5 14 5 2 7 21

a-singled to left for B Tomko in the 7th; b-struck out swinging for J Broxton
in the 9th; c-struck out swinging for S Proctor in the 11th.

BATTING: 2B - J Pierre (16, P Dumatrait); R Martin (27, E Guardado); D Young
(1, J Burton). HR - R Furcal (5, 11th inning off V Santos 0 on, 1 Out). S - B
Tomko. SF - O Saenz , J Kent , R Martinez. RBI - J Kent (60), R Martinez 2
(14), O Saenz (15), R Furcal (38). 2-out RBI - R Martinez. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - J Kent 1, R Martinez 1, R Furcal 4. GIDP - M Kemp.
Team LOB - 10.

BASERUNNING: SB - M Kemp (4, 2nd base off V Santos/J Valentin).

FIELDING: DP: 2 (R Furcal-J Loney, J Kent-R Furcal-J Loney).


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
N Hopper cf 5 2 3 0 0 0 0 .296
J Keppinger lf 5 0 3 0 0 0 1 .351
K Griffey Jr rf 5 0 0 0 0 2 3 .270
B Phillips 2b 5 0 1 1 0 0 1 .275
S Hatteberg 1b 5 0 0 0 0 1 2 .300
J Valentin c 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 .273
J Ellison pr 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
E Encarnacion 3b 5 1 2 0 0 0 3 .268
A Gonzalez ss 5 1 1 2 0 0 2 .262
P Dumatrait p 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000
E Guardado p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Bellhorn ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .200
J Burton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Stanton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-A Dunn ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .260
V Santos p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 42 4 11 3 2 6 12

a-flied out to left for E Guardado in the 7th; b-struck out looking for M
Stanton in the 9th.

BATTING: HR - A Gonzalez (16, 2nd inning off B Tomko 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - B
Phillips (66), A Gonzalez 2 (49). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S
Hatteberg 1, K Griffey Jr 1, J Keppinger 1. GIDP - S Hatteberg, A Gonzalez.
Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - N Hopper (8, 2nd base off S Proctor/R Martin).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (A Gonzalez-B Phillips-S Hatteberg).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 110 000 110 01 -- 5
CINCINNATI - 120 000 100 00 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
B Tomko 6 6 3 3 1 3 1 5.49
R Seanez 2/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.00
J Beimel 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.94
J Broxton 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2.47
S Proctor (W, 1-0) 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 1.17
T Saito (S, 28) 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1.44

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
P Dumatrait 6 7 2 2 2 3 0 7.71
E Guardado (B, 1) 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 9.00
J Burton (B, 1) 2/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.68
M Stanton 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.83
V Santos (L, 1-4) 2 2 1 1 0 3 1 4.50

BALK - J Beimel. Pitches-strikes: B Tomko 87-56; R Seanez 14-8; J Beimel 6-3;
J Broxton 15-8; S Proctor 24-17; T Saito 10-7; P Dumatrait 90-56; E Guardado
16-11; J Burton 9-7; M Stanton 13-10; V Santos 33-19. Ground balls-fly balls: B
Tomko 8-7; R Seanez 0-2; J Beimel 0-0; J Broxton 3-0; S Proctor 2-2; T Saito
2-1; P Dumatrait 6-9; E Guardado 1-2; J Burton 1-1; M Stanton 1-2; V Santos
1-2. Batters faced: B Tomko 25; R Seanez 4; J Beimel 1; J Broxton 4; S Proctor
7; T Saito 3; P Dumatrait 26; E Guardado 5; J Burton 4; M Stanton 5; V Santos
8.

UMPIRES: HP--Paul Emmel. 1B--Dan Iassogna. 2B--Dale Scott. 3B--Ron Kulpa.
EJECTIONS: CINCINNATI's Dunn by Emmel (9th).
T--3:35. Att--25,965.
Weather: 95 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 8 mph, out to
left.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
LA DODGERS 5
CINCINNATI 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA DODGERS (5) AT CINCINNATI (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal walked. R Martin singled to left center, R Furcal
to second. O Saenz singled to center, R Furcal to third, R Martin to second.
J Kent hit sacrifice fly to left, R Furcal scored. M Kemp grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, O Saenz out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper singled to right. J Keppinger reached on infield
single to shortstop, N Hopper to second. K Griffey Jr flied out to center,
N Hopper to third, J Keppinger to second. B Phillips grounded out to shortstop,
N Hopper scored. S Hatteberg flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, CINCINNATI 1.

LA DODGERS 2ND: D Young singled to center. J Pierre doubled to deep left,
D Young to third. R Martinez hit sacrifice fly to right, D Young scored,
J Pierre to third. B Tomko struck out bunting foul. R Furcal struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 1.

CINCINNATI 2ND: J Valentin grounded out to pitcher. E Encarnacion singled
to left center. A Gonzalez homered to left, E Encarnacion scored. P Dumatrait
struck out swinging. N Hopper grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

LA DODGERS 7TH: E Guardado relieved P Dumatrait. N Garciaparra hit for
B Tomko. N Garciaparra singled to left. R Furcal flied out to right. R Martin
doubled to left, N Garciaparra to third. O Saenz hit sacrifice fly to center,
N Garciaparra scored, R Martin to third. J Kent grounded out to pitcher.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 3, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 7TH: R Seanez relieved B Tomko. J Loney at first base.
A Gonzalez flied out to left. M Bellhorn hit for E Guardado. M Bellhorn
flied out to left. N Hopper singled to center. J Keppinger singled to
center, N Hopper to third. J Beimel relieved R Seanez. N Hopper scored,
J Keppinger to second on balk by J Beimel. K Griffey Jr struck out swinging.
(1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 3, CINCINNATI 4.

LA DODGERS 8TH: J Burton relieved E Guardado. M Kemp grounded out to
second. D Young doubled to right. A Ethier ran for D Young. J Pierre lined
out to left. R Martinez singled to right, A Ethier scored. M Stanton relieved
J Burton. J Loney singled to right, R Martinez to second. R Furcal grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CINCINNATI 4.

LA DODGERS 11TH: J Loney popped out to shortstop. R Furcal homered to
right. R Martin struck out looking. M Lieberthal hit for S Proctor.
M Lieberthal struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 5,
CINCINNATI 4.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA DODGERS (5) AT CINCINNATI (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, R Martin C, O Saenz 1B, J Kent 2B,
M Kemp RF, D Young LF, J Pierre CF, R Martinez 3B, B Tomko RHP.

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- N Hopper CF, J Keppinger LF, K Griffey Jr RF,
B Phillips 2B, S Hatteberg 1B, J Valentin C, E Encarnacion 3B, A Gonzalez SS,
P Dumatrait LHP.

Umpires -- Paul Emmel (HP), Dan Iassogna (1B), Dale Scott (2B), Ron Kulpa (3B).


Gametime Weather: 95 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind out to left at 8 mph.


LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal walked. R Martin singled to left center, R Furcal
to second. O Saenz singled to center, R Furcal to third, R Martin to second.
J Kent hit sacrifice fly to left, R Furcal scored. M Kemp grounded into double
play, shortstop to second to first, O Saenz out at second.(1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: N Hopper singled to right. J Keppinger reached on infield
single to shortstop, N Hopper to second. K Griffey Jr flied out to center,
N Hopper to third, J Keppinger to second. B Phillips grounded out to shortstop,
N Hopper scored. S Hatteberg flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, CINCINNATI 1.

LA DODGERS 2ND: D Young singled to center. J Pierre doubled to deep left,
D Young to third. R Martinez hit sacrifice fly to right, D Young scored,
J Pierre to third. B Tomko struck out bunting foul. R Furcal struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 1.

CINCINNATI 2ND: J Valentin grounded out to pitcher. E Encarnacion singled
to left center. A Gonzalez homered to left, E Encarnacion scored. P Dumatrait
struck out swinging. N Hopper grounded out to shortstop. (2 Runs, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

LA DODGERS 3RD: R Martin singled to center. O Saenz lined out to left.
J Kent flied out to right. M Kemp grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop,
R Martin out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 3RD: J Keppinger grounded out to shortstop. K Griffey Jr struck
out swinging. B Phillips grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

LA DODGERS 4TH: D Young singled to right. J Pierre lined out to center.
R Martinez walked, D Young to second. B Tomko sacrificed to first, D Young
to third, R Martinez to second. R Furcal fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 4TH: S Hatteberg lined out to second. J Valentin grounded out
to second. E Encarnacion singled to center. A Gonzalez flied out to right.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

LA DODGERS 5TH: R Martin grounded out to shortstop. O Saenz flied out
to center. J Kent grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 5TH: P Dumatrait struck out swinging. N Hopper bunt grounded
out to first. J Keppinger singled to center. K Griffey Jr fouled out to
catcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

LA DODGERS 6TH: M Kemp struck out swinging. D Young singled to right.
J Pierre lined out to center. R Martinez flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 6TH: B Phillips grounded out to first. S Hatteberg flied out to
center. J Valentin walked. E Encarnacion lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs,
0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 2, CINCINNATI 3.

LA DODGERS 7TH: E Guardado relieved P Dumatrait. N Garciaparra hit for
B Tomko. N Garciaparra singled to left. R Furcal flied out to right.
R Martin doubled to left, N Garciaparra to third. O Saenz hit sacrifice fly
to center, N Garciaparra scored, R Martin to third. J Kent grounded out to
pitcher. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 3, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 7TH: R Seanez relieved B Tomko. J Loney at first base.
A Gonzalez flied out to left. M Bellhorn hit for E Guardado. M Bellhorn
flied out to left. N Hopper singled to center. J Keppinger singled to center,
N Hopper to third. J Beimel relieved R Seanez. N Hopper scored, J Keppinger
to second on balk by J Beimel. K Griffey Jr struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 3, CINCINNATI 4.

LA DODGERS 8TH: J Burton relieved E Guardado. M Kemp grounded out to
second. D Young doubled to right. A Ethier ran for D Young. J Pierre lined
out to left. R Martinez singled to right, A Ethier scored. M Stanton relieved
J Burton. J Loney singled to right, R Martinez to second. R Furcal grounded
out to second. (1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 8TH: J Broxton relieved J Beimel. A Ethier in left field.
B Phillips singled to center. S Hatteberg grounded into double play, shortstop
to first, B Phillips out at second. J Valentin walked. E Encarnacion grounded
out to catcher. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CINCINNATI 4.

LA DODGERS 9TH: R Martin flied out to left. L Gonzalez hit for J Broxton.
L Gonzalez struck out swinging. J Kent fouled out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 9TH: S Proctor relieved J Broxton. A Gonzalez grounded out to
shortstop. A Dunn hit for M Stanton. A Dunn struck out looking. Cincinnati's
A Dunn ejected by P Emmel. N Hopper singled to right. N Hopper stole second.
J Keppinger flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4,
CINCINNATI 4.

LA DODGERS 10TH: V Santos relieved M Stanton. M Kemp singled to left center.
A Ethier popped out to second. M Kemp stole second. J Pierre grounded out to
pitcher, M Kemp to third. R Martinez struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 10TH: K Griffey Jr grounded out to shortstop. B Phillips flied
out to right. S Hatteberg struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 4, CINCINNATI 4.

LA DODGERS 11TH: J Loney popped out to shortstop. R Furcal homered to
right. R Martin struck out looking. M Lieberthal hit for S Proctor.
M Lieberthal struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 5,
CINCINNATI 4.

CINCINNATI 11TH: T Saito relieved S Proctor. J Valentin singled to right.
J Ellison ran for J Valentin. E Encarnacion flied out to center. A Gonzalez
grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, J Ellison out at
second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 5, CINCINNATI 4.</div>

 

Furcal's homer in the 11th ends Dodgers' six-game slide

<h3>LA DODGERS 5, CINCINNATI 4 (11 INNINGS)</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Rafael Furcal's power display ended aseason-high slump for the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Furcal homered with one out in the top of the 11th inning as theDodgers halted a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory overthe Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series onThursday.


Furcal drilled a 1-0 pitch from Victor Santos (1-4) over theright field fence, a shot that carried 426 feet.


Making his fifth appearance since being acquired from the NewYork Yankees at the trade deadline, Scott Proctor (1-0) alloweda hit and struck out two in a pair of scoreless innings.

Closer Takashi Saito worked around a leadoff hit by Javier Valentinin the bottom of the 11th for his 28th save.


Along with picking up its first win in a week, Los Angeles didnot need long to halt a string of consecutive scoreless innings.

After getting shut out in their previous three games, theDodgers avoided a franchise-record fourth in a row by scoring inthe first inning against Reds rookie Phil Dumatrait.

Furcal worked a walk leading off before Russell Martin andOlmedo Saenz both singled to load the bases. Jeff Kent thenended Los Angeles' futility at the plate with sacrifice fly toto left field.


It was the first run in 29 frames for the National League Westclub.


Although the Reds tied the score in the bottom half of thefirst, the Dodgers re-took the lead in the second after rookieDelwyn Young hit a leadoff single, moved to third on a double byJuan Pierre and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ramon Martinez.

The single was apart of a 4-for-4 effort for the 25-year-oldYoung, who was forced to leave the game in the eighth with anapparent leg injury.


Young injured himself legging out a one-out double and wasreplaced by pinch runner Andre Ethier, who later scored on asingle by Martinez to knot the score at 4-4.


Cincinnati, which was looking for its first straight win,grabbed a 3-2 lead in the second when Alex Gonzalez drilled a1-1 pitch from Brett Tomko to left field for his 16th homer ofthe season - a two-run shot.


That advantage held up until the seventh when Saenz lofted LosAngeles' third sacrifice fly of the game to forge a 3-3 tie.

Pinch hitting for Tomko, Nomar Garciaparra delivered a leadoffsingle against reliever Eddie Guardado in the seventh, moved tothird two batters later on a double by Martin and scored onSaenz's fly ball.


It was the first appearance in nearly a year for the 36-year-oldGuardado, who was forced to undergo "Tommy John" surgery just15 appearances after he was acquired from the Seattle Marinerslast season.


The Reds went back in front in the bottom of the seventh on aquestionable balk call. With runners on the corners and twoouts, the Dodgers' Joe Beimel opted to throw to first base afterJeff Keppinger made a break for second base.


Plate umpire Paul Emmel called the balk, forcing in NorrisHopper from third base to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead.

The Reds were unable to manage much offensive thereafter,hitting into a pair of double plays. In the ninth, pinch hitterAdam Dunn was ejected by Emmel for arguing a called thirdstrike.

 

Furcal's homer in the 11th ends Dodgers' six-game slide

<h3>LA DODGERS 5, CINCINNATI 4 (11 INNINGS)</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Rafael Furcal's power display ended aseason-high slump for the Los Angeles Dodgers.


Furcal homered with one out in the top of the 11th inning as theDodgers halted a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 victory overthe Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game series onThursday.


Furcal drilled a 1-0 pitch from Victor Santos (1-4) over theright field fence, a shot that carried 426 feet.


The shortstop's power was a release of frustration, as he hadstranded six runners on base.


"I was frustrated because I left so many runners on base,"Furcal said. "I concentrated a little more in that last at-bat.I got a pitch down the middle. I don't know what it was but Iput a good swing on it. It made me very excited because of theway we've been playing."


Making his fifth appearance since being acquired from the NewYork Yankees at the trade deadline, Scott Proctor (1-0) alloweda hit and struck out two in a pair of scoreless innings.

Closer Takashi Saito worked around a leadoff hit by JavierValentin in the bottom of the 11th for his 28th save.

Along with picking up its first win in a week, Los Angeles didnot need long to halt a string of consecutive scoreless innings.

After getting shut out in their previous three games, theDodgers avoided a franchise-record fourth in a row by scoring inthe first inning against Reds rookie Phil Dumatrait.

"Sure something like this can get us started," Dodgers managerGrady Little said. "We've been through it before. You can't getahead of yourself. You can't play tomorrow's ballgame oryesterday's. You have to play the game today."


Furcal worked a walk leading off before Russell Martin andOlmedo Saenz both singled to load the bases. Jeff Kent thenended Los Angeles' futility at the plate with sacrifice fly toto left field.


It was the first run in 29 frames for the National League Westclub.


Although the Reds tied the score in the bottom half of thefirst, the Dodgers re-took the lead in the second after rookieDelwyn Young hit a leadoff single, moved to third on a double byJuan Pierre and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ramon Martinez.

The single was apart of a 4-for-4 effort for the 25-year-oldYoung, who was forced to leave the game in the eighth withcramps in both legs, especially the temperature at the parksoared as high as 99 degrees.


"Delwyn Young showed us some good at-bats," Little said. "Heleft with cramps in both legs. It was heat related. Itsomething you would see more likely in an older player."

Young injured himself legging out a one-out double and wasreplaced by pinch runner Andre Ethier, who later scored on asingle by Martinez to knot the score at 4-4.


Cincinnati, which was looking for its first straight win,grabbed a 3-2 lead in the second when Alex Gonzalez drilled a1-1 pitch from Brett Tomko to left field for his 16th homer ofthe season - a two-run shot.


"I wish I could take back the slider that I hung," Tomko said."He could have just as easily popped it up and I would have toldyou what a good pitch it was."


That advantage held up until the seventh when Saenz lofted LosAngeles' third sacrifice fly of the game to forge a 3-3 tie.

Pinch hitting for Tomko, Nomar Garciaparra delivered a leadoffsingle against reliever Eddie Guardado in the seventh, moved tothird two batters later on a double by Martin and scored onSaenz's fly ball.


It was the first appearance in nearly a year for the 36-year-oldGuardado, who was forced to undergo "Tommy John" surgery just15 appearances after he was acquired from the Seattle Marinerslast season.


"It felt like a century," Guardado said. "My knees wereshaking, and the first guy I face is Nomar. It doesn't get muchbetter than that. Next time I go out there, hopefully, I'llget the job done."


The Reds went back in front in the bottom of the seventh on aquestionable balk call. With runners on the corners and twoouts, the Dodgers' Joe Beimel opted to throw to first base afterJeff Keppinger made a break for second base.


Plate umpire Paul Emmel called the balk, forcing in NorrisHopper from third base to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead.

"I've never seen a home plate umpire make that call," Beimelsaid. "I am closed when I come set so I don't need to step muchto go to first base."


"I argued the call but I shouldn't have," Little said. "Healtered his delivery and they were right on top of it. Theycalled the game right. The saying is you're not as bad as youthink when you're going bad and not as good as you think whenyou're going good."


The Reds were unable to manage much offensive thereafter,hitting into a pair of double plays. In the ninth, pinch hitterAdam Dunn was ejected by Emmel for arguing a called thirdstrike.


In his second major league start, Dumatrait left with a leadafter allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings.

"For the first couple of innings, I still had some butterflies,but I calmed down and I thought I threw some quality pitches,"said Dumatrait, a first-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in2002.


"He settled down after the first couple of innings and startedusing his changeup and breaking ball. It was encouraging,"Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin said.