DeWitt hits Dodgers past Reds; Dunn HRs again

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05/20/2008 - Los Angeles, CA (Baseball Betting) - Blake DeWitt drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, as the Los Angeles Dodgers clipped the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game set at Chavez Ravine.

Brad Penny, who had his start pushed back a day due to stiffness in his right arm, gave up nine hits and five runs in six innings for the Dodgers. Takashi Saito (2-1) tossed a perfect ninth to pick up the win

Matt Kemp finished 4-for-4 with a walk and a run batted in for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last six games. DeWitt drove in two runs, while Andre Ethier doubled and scored two runs.

Bronson Arroyo surrendered five runs -- three earned -- on nine hits in five innings for the Reds. David Weathers (1-3) allowed the deciding run in the ninth to absorb the loss.

Brandon Phillips was 4-for-5, scored two runs and knocked in a run for Cincinnati, which saw its season-high, six-game winning streak come to an end.

Adam Dunn belted a two-run homer and added an RBI single. Dunn has now homered in a career-high five straight games, tying the club record shared by Ken Griffey Jr. (July 8-12, 2003), Johnny Bench (May 30-June 3, 1972) and Ted Kluszewski (August 11-15, 1954).

"Home runs come in spurts and I just have a little spurt going," Dunn said. "I'm seeing it good and everything is starting to come together."

In the ninth, Russell Martin singled to short, took second when Paul Janish's throw sailed into the Reds dugout and moved to third on a ground out by Jeff Kent. Weathers then issued intentional walks to James Loney and Kemp to load the bases. DeWitt then stroked a single to left field to win the game.

"You dream about those situations," DeWitt said. "I'm having so much fun. I was just looking for a pitch up that I could drive. I just tried to stay out of the double play. I didn't want to hit the ball into the ground."

Cincinnati got an edge in the first. Corey Patterson reached on a force out and consecutive singles by Ken Griffey Jr. and Phillips gave the Reds a 1-0 lead. Patterson added an RBI single in the second to make it 2-0.

In the top of the third, Dunn followed a leadoff single by Phillips with his 11th home run of the season, extending the lead to 4-0, but the Dodgers scored two runs in the next frame.

Juan Pierre drew a two-out walk and Ethier ripped a double to right field to put runners at second and third. Martin then hit a chopper that shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. fielded, but whose throw eluded Joey Votto at first and bounced into the Reds dugout, allowing both runners to score.

An RBI single by Dunn made it a 5-2 game in the top of the fifth, but the Dodgers rallied in the home half. After giving up a one-out hit to Ethier, Arroyo retired Martin, but had difficulty nailing down the inning.

Kent hit a ball through the whole on the left side to put runners at the corners. Loney then lined a single to center to plate Ethier and Kemp slapped the ball to right, scoring Kent. DeWitt capped the offense with a single to left.

Game Notes

With 249 career home runs, Dunn is two shy of Kluszewski's franchise record for a lefthanded batter...Dunn has recorded an RBI in eight straight games (13 total)...The Dodgers left 12 men on base, while Cincinnati stranded eight...Cincinnati's Matt Belisle (1-3) and Los Angeles' Chad Billingsley (3-5) are scheduled to start on Tuesday...Attendance was 34,669.