Middlemen Lift Dodgers

With the way things have been going for the Dodgers these days, they needed a blowout victory to brighten their mood.

They were smiling Saturday night after ending a three-game losing streak in a 10-0 rout of Arizona at Dodger Stadium.

For a change, the Dodgers provided much more support than one of their starters needed in front of 35,343, pounding 13 hits to support a sensational eight-inning performance from right-hander Jose Lima.

The slumping players in the middle of the order made the biggest contribution, driving in all 10 runs, as the Dodgers won for only the third time in 15 games. Paul Lo Duca paced the attack with four hits, Adrian Beltre drove in three runs with his 12th home run and Juan Encarnacion also had three runs batted in on his seventh homer.

And it was even a good night for frustrated first baseman Shawn Green, who had two run-scoring singles as the Dodgers (25-22) pulled within a game of first-place San Diego in the National League West.

“The difference from tonight vs. the previous 14 games that we’ve played ... there was no difference in intensity, there was no difference in focus,� Manager Jim Tracy said. “The only thing that was different about tonight that had not been there over the previous 14 games is simply this: 10 runs batted in from the middle of our order. We had 10 runs batted in from the middle of our order.�

The Dodgers’ mood, however, was somewhat tempered because of Milton Bradley’s ankle injury.

The center fielder sprained his left ankle while trying to break up a double play in the sixth inning and had to be helped from the field. The Dodgers listed Bradley as day to day with a mild ankle sprain, saying the injury was different from the left ankle sprain the switch-hitter suffered in April against the Colorado Rockies.

But the Dodgers were hopeful Bradley, who had two hits, walked twice and scored two runs, would be back in the starting lineup tonight for the final game of the series against the Diamondbacks (18-31).

“He tweaked it, and there’s a chance he could be available tomorrow,� Tracy said. “I got a very encouraging report when [the medical staff] came down in the dugout to tell me how he was.

“I’d say there’s a good chance that he can play tomorrow. But we’ll wait and see once we come in here in the early afternoon.�

Lima (4-1), starting for injured right-hander Hideo Nomo, had his best start as a Dodger, giving up only two hits and throwing 112 pitches (78 strikes) in an eight-inning outing.

Eric Gagne, with one save since May 8, pitched the ninth, giving up a hit and walk, but striking out three.

“It goes without saying that it was a terrific performance tonight from Jose Lima,� Tracy said. “Jose Lima tonight did much of what we saw in spring training, and much of what we have seen of him when he’s come out of the bullpen and done nothing but throw strikes, which is something that he wasn’t really doing in the few starts that he had in the early part of the season.�

Lima, who relied on an effective sinker, had seven strikeouts and only one walk while lowering his earned-run average from 4.94 to 3.92.

“I know we can play like this most of the time,� Lima said. “This was the team I saw at the beginning of the year. We just need to worry about ourselves and not worry about San Diego and San Francisco.�

Leading, 4-0, the Dodgers batted around, broke open the game, 9-0, and chased Arizona starter Brandon Webb (2-5) in a five-run fifth. Encarnacion’s homer provided the big blow.

The Dodgers took command in a four-run third highlighted by Beltre’s two-out, three-run shot.

“The first two months of the season are over, so you just have to focus on what’s ahead,� Green said. “Beltre and Lo Duca have carried us this far, now it’s up to the rest of us to pick up the slack.�