GAME THREAD: NL: LA DODGERS (71-65) at CHICAGO CUBS (70-65)

Loaiza impressive with new team as Dodgers down Cubs

<h3>LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired EstebanLoaiza to help them with their playoff push. He did his job onMonday.


Loaiza pitched seven solid innings and drove in two runs as theDodgers cruised to an 11-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in theopener of a four-game series.


After being on the disabled list for the first 4 1/2 months ofthe season, Loaiza made just two starts with the OaklandAthletics before the Dodgers claimed the Mexican righthander offwaivers on Wednesday.


Loaiza (1-0) was shaky early, giving up a solo homer to AlfonsoSoriano to lead off the first frame. But the 13-year veteransettled down and did not give up another hit until opposingpitcher Carlos Zambrano singled to start the third.

Loaiza's cause was helped by Zambrano when he ran through a stopsign at third and was thrown out at home on Soriano's double.

The 35-year-old Loaiza surrendered three runs and nine hits withthree strikeouts to register his first win with his eighthdifferent club.


Loaiza also contributed at the plate, lining a base hit to leftfield off Zambrano to plate James Loney and Andy LaRoche andgive Los Angeles a 4-2 advantage.


Zambrano (14-12) lost his fifth straight start, yielding eightruns on seven hits and five walks with six strikeouts over 4 1/3frames. The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been awful since theend of July, posting an 0-5 record with a 8.29 ERA in sixoutings over that stretch.


The Dodgers broke the game open in the fifth with a four-runinning. After Jeff Kent's sacrifice fly scored a run, RussellMartin delivered an RBI single to left and Loney followed with atwo-run double to extend their advantage to 8-2.


Los Angeles struck again in the sixth. Kent hit an RBI single,Martin plated him with a sacrifice fly and Loney drove inanother with a base hit to right to take an 11-2 lead.

The third-place Dodgers (72-65) trail the San Diego Padres(75-61) by four games in the National League West.

Trailing 11-3, the Cubs threatened in the ninth by loading thebases with no outs. But Craig Monroe grounded into ahome-to-first double play and Mike Fontenot struck out swingingto end the game.


Chicago (70-66) still maintains its 1 1/2 game lead in the NLCentral over the Milwaukee Brewers (69-68), who lost to theHouston Astros. The St. Louis Cardinals (67-67), who also lostto the Pittsburgh Pirates, sit just two games back in third.

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 1 0 3 4 3 0 0 0 11 13 2
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 10 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA, SCOTT PROCTOR (8TH), D.J. HOULTON (9TH) AND
RUSSELL MARTIN, MIKE LIEBERTHAL (8TH)

CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO, WILL OHMAN (5TH), SEAN GALLAGHER
(6TH), SCOTT EYRE (8TH), MIKE WUERTZ (9TH) AND HENRY BLANCO

HOME RUNS: LOS - NONE

CHN - ALFONSO SORIANO (20) OFF ESTEBAN LOAIZA IN THE 1ST, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
LA DODGERS 0 1 0 3 4 3 0 0 0 11 13 2
CHICAGO CUBS 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 10 2 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA, SCOTT PROCTOR (8TH), D.J. HOULTON (9TH) AND
RUSSELL MARTIN, MIKE LIEBERTHAL (8TH)

CHN - CARLOS ZAMBRANO, WILL OHMAN (5TH), SEAN GALLAGHER
(6TH), SCOTT EYRE (8TH), MIKE WUERTZ (9TH) AND HENRY BLANCO


WP - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (1-0)
LP - CARLOS ZAMBRANO (14-12)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: LOS - NONE

CHN - ALFONSO SORIANO (20) OFF ESTEBAN LOAIZA IN THE 1ST, 0 ON


TIME: 3:00 ATT: 41,070

PROBABLES: LOS - BRAD PENNY (14-4, 2.88)
CHN - STEVE TRACHSEL (NR)</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">LA DODGERS (11) VS CHICAGO CUBS (3) - FINAL

LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 5 0 1 0 0 2 3 .279
C Hu ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Pierre cf 4 2 1 0 1 0 1 .290
A Ethier rf-lf 5 1 2 0 0 1 2 .289
J Kent 2b 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 .296
R Martinez 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .185
L Gonzalez lf 3 3 2 0 1 1 1 .279
M Kemp rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333
R Martin c 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 .297
a-M Lieberthal ph-c 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .239
J Loney 1b 4 1 2 3 1 1 0 .311
A LaRoche 3b 5 1 1 2 0 1 3 .200
E Loaiza p 3 0 1 2 0 1 1 .333
S Proctor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-O Saenz ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .180
D Houlton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 38 11 13 11 5 11 12

a-struck out looking for R Martin in the 8th; b-struck out swinging for S
Proctor in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A LaRoche (3, C Zambrano); J Loney (14, W Ohman); J Pierre (19, S
Gallagher); L Gonzalez (23, S Gallagher). S - E Loaiza. SF - R Martin. RBI - A
LaRoche 2 (5), E Loaiza 2 (2), J Kent 2 (74), R Martin 2 (81), J Loney 3 (40).
2-out RBI - A LaRoche, E Loaiza 2, J Loney. Runners left in scoring position, 2
out - E Loaiza 1, R Furcal 2. Team LOB - 7.

BASERUNNING: CS - J Kent (3, 2nd base by C Zambrano/H Blanco).

FIELDING: E - R Furcal (18, throw); C Hu (1, pop up). Outfield assists - L
Gonzalez (C Zambrano at Home). DP: 3 (A LaRoche-J Kent-J Loney 2, A LaRoche-M
Lieberthal-J Loney).


CHICAGO CUBS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
A Soriano lf 3 2 2 1 0 1 2 .298
C Monroe lf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .200
R Theriot ss 2 0 1 1 1 0 0 .281
M Fontenot 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .279
D Lee 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 .310
R Cedeno ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .118
A Ramirez 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .316
D Ward 1b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .333
M Murton rf 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .273
M DeRosa 2b-3b 4 0 2 1 0 0 1 .286
J Jones cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .269
S Eyre p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
M Wuertz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-G Soto ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .143
H Blanco c 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .174
C Zambrano p 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .265
W Ohman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-E Patterson ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250
S Gallagher p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
b-F Pie ph-cf 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .215

Totals 35 3 10 3 3 5 16

a-doubled to right for W Ohman in the 5th; b-flied out to center for S
Gallagher in the 7th; c-walked for M Wuertz in the 9th.

BATTING: 2B - A Soriano (33, E Loaiza); E Patterson (1, E Loaiza). HR - A
Soriano (20, 1st inning off E Loaiza 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - A Soriano (45), R
Theriot (41), M DeRosa (63). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - H Blanco
1, M DeRosa 1, M Fontenot 2, M Murton 1. GIDP - D Lee 2, C Monroe. Team LOB -
8.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Cedeno (2, 2nd base off S Proctor/M Lieberthal).

FIELDING: E - D Lee (4, catch); A Ramirez (8, ground ball). DP: 1 (H Blanco-R
Theriot).


----------------------------------------------------
LA DODGERS - 010 343 000 -- 11
CHICAGO CUBS - 101 001 000 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
E Loaiza (W, 1-0) 7 9 3 3 1 3 1 3.86
S Proctor 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.98
D Houlton 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4.86

CHICAGO CUBS ip h r er bb so hr era
C Zambrano (L, 14-12) 4 1/3 7 8 8 5 6 0 4.35
W Ohman 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.96
S Gallagher 2 5 3 3 0 0 0 8.59
S Eyre 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.87
M Wuertz 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 3.66

BALK - E Loaiza. Pitches-strikes: E Loaiza 96-69; S Proctor 14-10; D Houlton
15-10; C Zambrano 96-52; W Ohman 22-15; S Gallagher 30-21; S Eyre 16-10; M
Wuertz 12-9. Ground balls-fly balls: E Loaiza 6-11; S Proctor 1-1; D Houlton
2-0; C Zambrano 5-1; W Ohman 1-1; S Gallagher 1-5; S Eyre 0-1; M Wuertz 0-0.
Batters faced: E Loaiza 29; S Proctor 4; D Houlton 5; C Zambrano 24; W Ohman 4;
S Gallagher 11; S Eyre 3; M Wuertz 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Ed Hickox. 1B--C.B. Bucknor. 2B--Joe West. 3B--Ed Rapuano.

T--3:00. Att--41,070.
Weather: 78 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from
right.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
LA DODGERS 11
CHICAGO CUBS 3 FINAL</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA DODGERS (11) AT CHICAGO CUBS (3) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano homered to left. R Theriot grounded out to
pitcher. D Lee flied out to left. A Ramirez safe at second on throwing error
by shortstop R Furcal. M Murton flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
LA DODGERS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

LA DODGERS 2ND: L Gonzalez singled to center. R Martin singled to left,
L Gonzalez to second. J Loney grounded out to second, L Gonzalez to third,
R Martin to second. A LaRoche grounded out to shortstop, L Gonzalez scored.
E Loaiza struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: C Zambrano singled to center. A Soriano doubled to deep
left, C Zambrano thrown out at home, A Soriano to third advancing on throw.
R Theriot singled to right, A Soriano scored. D Lee grounded into double play,
third to second to first, R Theriot out at second.(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

LA DODGERS 4TH: J Kent walked. L Gonzalez struck out looking, J Kent
caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. R Martin walked. J Loney walked,
R Martin to second. A LaRoche doubled to right, R Martin scored, J Loney to
third. E Loaiza singled to left, J Loney and A LaRoche scored. R Furcal
struck out looking. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

LA DODGERS 5TH: J Pierre walked. J Pierre safe at second on error by first
baseman D Lee. A Ethier reached on infield single to shortstop, J Pierre to
third. J Kent grounded out to third, J Pierre scored, A Ethier to second.
L Gonzalez walked. R Martin singled to left, A Ethier scored, L Gonzalez to
second. W Ohman relieved C Zambrano. J Loney doubled to deep right, L Gonzalez
and R Martin scored. A LaRoche safe at first on error by third baseman
A Ramirez. E Loaiza sacrificed to third, J Loney to third, A LaRoche to second.
R Furcal popped out to shortstop. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 2 Errors) LA DODGERS 8,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

LA DODGERS 6TH: S Gallagher relieved W Ohman. J Pierre doubled to left
center. A Ethier flied out to left. J Kent singled to center, J Pierre
scored. L Gonzalez doubled to right, J Kent to third. R Martin hit sacrifice
fly to right, J Kent scored, L Gonzalez to third. J Loney singled to right
center, L Gonzalez scored. A LaRoche flied out to center. (3 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: R Martinez at second base. A Ramirez struck out swinging.
M Murton singled to left. M Murton to second on balk by E Loaiza. M DeRosa
singled to center, M Murton scored. J Jones popped out to third. H Blanco
flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3.</div>

 

NL: LA DODGERS at CHICAGO CUBS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LA DODGERS (11) AT CHICAGO CUBS (3) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, J Pierre CF, A Ethier RF, J Kent 2B,
L Gonzalez LF, R Martin C, J Loney 1B, A LaRoche 3B, E Loaiza RHP.

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineups -- A Soriano LF, R Theriot SS, D Lee 1B,
A Ramirez 3B, M Murton RF, M DeRosa 2B, J Jones CF, H Blanco C, C Zambrano RHP.

Umpires -- Ed Hickox (HP), C.B. Bucknor (1B), Joe West (2B), Ed Rapuano (3B).


Gametime Weather: 78 degrees, Sunny, wind in from right at 5 mph.


LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal struck out swinging. J Pierre flied out to
center. A Ethier singled to right center. J Kent struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 0.

CHICAGO CUBS 1ST: A Soriano homered to left. R Theriot grounded out to
pitcher. D Lee flied out to left. A Ramirez safe at second on throwing error
by shortstop R Furcal. M Murton flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 1 Error)
LA DODGERS 0, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

LA DODGERS 2ND: L Gonzalez singled to center. R Martin singled to left,
L Gonzalez to second. J Loney grounded out to second, L Gonzalez to third,
R Martin to second. A LaRoche grounded out to shortstop, L Gonzalez scored.
E Loaiza struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 2ND: M DeRosa fouled out to first. J Jones flied out to left.
H Blanco lined out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 1,
CHICAGO CUBS 1.

LA DODGERS 3RD: R Furcal grounded out to second. J Pierre grounded out
to shortstop. A Ethier struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, CHICAGO CUBS 1.

CHICAGO CUBS 3RD: C Zambrano singled to center. A Soriano doubled to deep
left, C Zambrano thrown out at home, A Soriano to third advancing on throw.
R Theriot singled to right, A Soriano scored. D Lee grounded into double play,
third to second to first, R Theriot out at second.(1 Run, 3 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 1, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

LA DODGERS 4TH: J Kent walked. L Gonzalez struck out looking, J Kent
caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. R Martin walked. J Loney walked,
R Martin to second. A LaRoche doubled to right, R Martin scored, J Loney to
third. E Loaiza singled to left, J Loney and A LaRoche scored. R Furcal
struck out looking. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 4TH: A Ramirez flied out to right. M Murton grounded out to
second. M DeRosa singled to left. J Jones singled to right, M DeRosa to
second. H Blanco struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 4,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

LA DODGERS 5TH: J Pierre walked. J Pierre safe at second on error by first
baseman D Lee. A Ethier reached on infield single to shortstop, J Pierre to
third. J Kent grounded out to third, J Pierre scored, A Ethier to second.
L Gonzalez walked. R Martin singled to left, A Ethier scored, L Gonzalez to
second. W Ohman relieved C Zambrano. J Loney doubled to deep right, L Gonzalez
and R Martin scored. A LaRoche safe at first on error by third baseman
A Ramirez. E Loaiza sacrificed to third, J Loney to third, A LaRoche to second.
R Furcal popped out to shortstop. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 2 Errors) LA DODGERS 8,
CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 5TH: E Patterson hit for W Ohman. E Patterson doubled to
right. A Soriano struck out swinging. R Theriot walked. D Lee grounded into
double play, third to second to first, R Theriot out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 8, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

LA DODGERS 6TH: S Gallagher relieved W Ohman. J Pierre doubled to left
center. A Ethier flied out to left. J Kent singled to center, J Pierre
scored. L Gonzalez doubled to right, J Kent to third. R Martin hit sacrifice
fly to right, J Kent scored, L Gonzalez to third. J Loney singled to right
center, L Gonzalez scored. A LaRoche flied out to center. (3 Runs, 4 Hits,
0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 2.

CHICAGO CUBS 6TH: R Martinez at second base. A Ramirez struck out swinging.
M Murton singled to left. M Murton to second on balk by E Loaiza. M DeRosa
singled to center, M Murton scored. J Jones popped out to third. H Blanco
flied out to center. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

LA DODGERS 7TH: C Monroe in left field. M Fontenot at second base. R Cedeno
at shortstop. D Ward at first base. M DeRosa at third base. E Loaiza grounded
out to third. R Furcal singled to right. J Pierre fouled out to left.
A Ethier flied out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 7TH: F Pie hit for S Gallagher. A Ethier in left field. M Kemp
in right field. F Pie flied out to center. C Monroe flied out to center.
M Fontenot lined out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11,
CHICAGO CUBS 3.

LA DODGERS 8TH: S Eyre relieved S Gallagher. F Pie in center field.
R Martinez struck out swinging. M Kemp flied out to right. M Lieberthal hit
for R Martin. M Lieberthal struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 8TH: S Proctor relieved E Loaiza. M Lieberthal catching. C Hu
at shortstop. R Cedeno walked. D Ward struck out swinging, R Cedeno stole
second. M Murton flied out to right. M DeRosa grounded out to shortstop.
(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

LA DODGERS 9TH: M Wuertz relieved S Eyre. J Loney struck out swinging.
A LaRoche struck out swinging. O Saenz hit for S Proctor. O Saenz struck
out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3.

CHICAGO CUBS 9TH: D Houlton relieved S Proctor. G Soto hit for M Wuertz.
G Soto walked. H Blanco safe at first on error by shortstop C Hu, G Soto to
second. F Pie singled to right, G Soto to third, H Blanco to second. C Monroe
grounded into double play, third to catcher to first, G Soto out at home,
H Blanco to third, F Pie to second. M Fontenot struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 1 Error) LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3.</div>

 

Loaiza impressive with new team as Dodgers down Cubs

<h3>LA DODGERS 11, CHICAGO CUBS 3</h3>CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired EstebanLoaiza to help them with their playoff push. He did his job onMonday.


Loaiza pitched seven solid innings and drove in two runs as theDodgers cruised to an 11-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in theopener of a four-game series.


After being on the disabled list for the first 4 1/2 months ofthe season, Loaiza made just two starts with the OaklandAthletics before the Dodgers claimed the Mexican righthander offwaivers on Wednesday.


"I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes and get peopleout," Loaiza said. "I am here for a reason and that is to helpus get to the playoffs. I want to prove that I can still go outthere and win games."


Loaiza (1-0) was shaky early, giving up a solo homer to AlfonsoSoriano to lead off the first frame. But the 13-year veteransettled down and did not give up another hit until opposingpitcher Carlos Zambrano singled to start the third.

"The home run was only one hit - and I knew the game wouldn'tend 1-0," Loaiza said.


Loaiza's cause was helped by Zambrano when he ran through a stopsign at third and was thrown out at home on Soriano's double.

"I didn't see the stop sign by our coach," Zambrano said. "Ithought (Luis) Gonzalez had trouble getting to the ball, so Ijust put my head down and ran."


The 35-year-old Loaiza surrendered three runs and nine hits withthree strikeouts to register his first win with his eighthdifferent club.


"We couldn't have asked for anything more from Loaiza," Dodgersmanager Grady Little said. "He went out there and threw strikeslike we knew he could."


Loaiza also contributed at the plate, lining a base hit to leftfield off Zambrano to plate James Loney and Andy LaRoche andgive Los Angeles a 4-2 advantage.


Zambrano (14-12) lost his fifth straight start, yielding eightruns on seven hits and five walks with six strikeouts over 4 1/3frames.


The 26-year-old Venezuelan has been awful since the end of July,posting an 0-5 record with a 8.29 ERA in six outings over thatstretch. The Cubs ace was booed by the home fans upon leavingthe game.


"I don't accept that the fans booed me," Zambrano said. "Ireally can't understand that. I thought these were the greatestfans in baseball but they showed me today that they only careabout themselves. That's not fair, when you are struggling, youwant to feel like you have their support. I don't accept theirreaction."


The Dodgers broke the game open in the fifth with a four-runinning. After Jeff Kent's sacrifice fly scored a run, RussellMartin delivered an RBI single to left and Loney followed with atwo-run double to extend their advantage to 8-2.


"When you see a guy struggling with his command, you get moreselective at the plate," Martin said. "It wasn't the planbefore the game, but Zambrano wasn't throwing strikes."

Los Angeles struck again in the sixth. Kent hit an RBI single,Martin plated him with a sacrifice fly and Loney drove inanother with a base hit to right to take an 11-2 lead.

The third-place Dodgers (72-65) trail the San Diego Padres(75-61) by four games in the National League West.

Trailing 11-3, the Cubs threatened in the ninth by loading thebases with no outs. But Craig Monroe grounded into ahome-to-first double play and Mike Fontenot struck out swingingto end the game.


Chicago (70-66) still maintains its 1 1/2 game lead in the NLCentral over the Milwaukee Brewers (69-68), who lost to theHouston Astros. The St. Louis Cardinals (67-67), who also lostto the Pittsburgh Pirates, sit just two games back in third.

"It's been this way all summer, I don't expect it to changenow," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "This thing will probablygo right to the end of the year."