LA extends lead

Andre Ethier had four RBIs and scored the go-ahead run on Manny Ramirez's sac fly, as the Dodgers rallied and got help from the Giants, who also rallied to beat the D-backs. That means Los Angeles leads the NL West by 2 1/2 games.

Dodgers' sweep creates distance in NL West

The Dodgers scored a pair of early runs before going silent for four innings, but James Loney's sac fly in the sixth tied it, and two D-backs miscues in the seventh put Los Angeles on top for good to extend its winning streak to eight and its NL West lead to 1 1/2 games.

Dodgers complete sweep

Blake DeWitt and Angel Berroa went deep in the fourth, and Casey Blake added a solo shot in the seventh as the Dodgers held off the Padres to complete the sweep and maintain their 1 1/2-game deficit in the National League West with a weekend series looming with the first-place D-backs.

West race tightens

Clayton Kershaw took a no-hitter into the fifth and a shutout into the seventh and enjoyed an abundance of support from his offense. Manny Ramirez homered and drove in three, and Andre Ethier came within a double of a the first Dodgers cycle since 1970 as L.A. closed the gap in the NL West to 1 1/2 games.

Kent to undergo surgery on knee

Second baseman Jeff Kent will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday, but the Dodgers hope to have him back by the end of the month, most likely in a pinch-hitting role. The 40-year-old Kent has torn cartilage in his left knee that is catching in the joint. He returned to Los Angeles for an MRI after aggravating the injury in Friday's loss to Arizona.
Although rosters expand Monday, the Dodgers in a procedural move placed Kent on the 15-day disabled list and recalled infielder Chin-lung Hu. Disabling Kent gives the Dodgers added flexibility if and when they make out postseason rosters.

Dodgers win series

After handling the D-backs' top two pitchers to win the weekend series, the Dodgers find themselves right back in the NL West race, just 2 1/2 games out. Homers by Andre Ethier and Casey Blake in the first inning set the tempo for Sunday's win.

dodgers end losing skid

Manny Ramirez homered twice and hit his 500th double as the Dodgers ended their eight-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the D-backs on Saturday.