Dodgers Hug the Road

The Dodgers showed once again Friday night that they are at home on the road. Even if it’s only about 35 miles down I-5 from Chavez Ravine.

Before a sellout crowd of 43,690 at Edison Field that appeared split in allegiance, the Dodgers increased their National League West lead to 3 1/2 games with a 7-5 interleague victory.

“It was good to see a sellout,� Angel starter Kevin Appier said. “I don’t like hearing cheers for the Dodgers, but it’s understandable as close as they are.�

The Dodgers wasted a 3-0 lead, then overcame a two-run deficit to score the winning run in the eighth inning when an apparent sacrifice fly hit by Mark Grudzielanek fell between Angel outfielders Darin Erstad and Tim Salmon, allowing pinch-runner Cesar Izturis to score from third base.

The Angels put runners at first and third with two out in the eighth, but Dodger closer Eric Gagne came on in relief of Giovanni Carrara (5-2) and retired Scott Spiezio on a fly ball before pitching a scoreless ninth for his major-league leading 29th save. With a runner at second in the ninth, Gagne struck out Erstad with a 95-mph fastball to end the game and give the Dodgers their ninth victory in 10 games.

The Dodgers improved to 3-1 this season against the Angels with the victory in the first game of a 10-game trip that will also take them to Arizona and St. Louis before the All-Star break. They are 50-29 overall (tied with Seattle for the best record in baseball) and 23-14 away from home (best in the National League).

Dave Roberts, Paul Lo Duca, Dave Hansen, Adrian Beltre and Grudzielanek each had two hits for the Dodgers, who are 21 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 29, 1996, when they were 90-69.

“We have grown since Day 1 of the season to where we’re not real particular about where we play,� Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said. “We just want to go play and we’re not overly concerned about the opponent.

“That’s not to sound braggadocious or anything like that. We’re just a good baseball team.�

The Angels, opening a nine-game home stand after a 7-7 trip that began with two losses in three games at Dodger Stadium, got consecutive home runs from Troy Glaus and Brad Fullmer during a five-run fourth inning, but could not make the lead stand up.

The score was tied, 5-5, in the eighth when Hansen and Beltre hit one-out singles against Angel reliever Scot Shields. Grudzielanek then lofted a fly ball to right field that center fielder Erstad drifted under while setting up to make the catch and throw to the plate. At the last moment, however, he seemed to give way to Salmon. The ball fell in and Izturis, running for Hansen, scored. Salmon threw to second base to force out Beltre.

“I thought I heard [Erstad] say something,� Salmon said. “At the last second I’m watching him and the ball drops in front of me.�

Erstad took the blame.

“I screwed up,� Erstad said. “I’m the center fielder. It’s my responsibility to make sure that ball is caught regardless of whether there is a play at the plate.�

The Angels did manage to hold Dodger right fielder Shawn Green in check, a feat virtually no one has been able to achieve since May 21. Green entered the game batting .355 with 22 home runs and 41 runs batted in since that date, but he went 0 for 5.

Appier was hoping to build on Sunday’s outing when he ended a five-game losing streak by giving up one run and six hits in six-plus innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.

But he was tagged for five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Dodgers, who took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Hansen, a run-scoring ground ball by Beltre and a run-scoring single by Grudzielanek.

Dodger starter Andy Ashby could not hold the lead.

Salmon and Garret Anderson hit consecutive singles to start the fourth inning before Glaus stepped in and hammered a pitch from Ashby into the left-field seats for his 15th homer, ending an 0-for-14 drought. Glaus had entered the game 18 for his last 116 at-bats (.155).

Fullmer followed Glaus’ blast to left by hitting a towering shot to right that glanced off the foul pole for his 10th homer. Spiezio doubled to right, moved to third on Fabregas’ ground ball to first base and scored on Kennedy’s fly ball to right to put the Angels ahead, 5-3.

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*--* Gagne Saves The season isn’t even half over yet, and already Eric Gagne is sixth on the all-time Dodger single-season saves list. A look: CLOSER YEAR SAVES TODD WORRELL 1996 44 JEFF SHAW 2001 43 TODD WORRELL 1997 35 JEFF SHAW 1999 34 TODD WORRELL 1995 32 ERIC GAGNE 2002 29 JAY HOWELL 1989 28 JEFF SHAW 2000 27 JEFF SHAW 1998 25 JIM GOTT 1993 25 NOTE--Gagne is on pace for 59 saves. The major league record is 57 by Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox in 1990

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