PHOENIX -- Jeff Weaver put his recent struggles behind
him long enough to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a key
performance.
Weaver tossed six solid innings and Jayson Werth highlighted a
three-run first inning with an RBIs double as Los Angeles posted
a 6-3 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Weaver (5-4), who was 0-2 with a 7.78 ERA over his last three
starts, yielded just two runs and struck out four in this one.
"I was a little shaky in the first inning," said Weaver, who
worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the opening frame. "I
finally got some velocity back and was a little erratic early.
I was caught between having good velocity and didn't know
exactly how to use it early on."
Los Angeles relievers Kelly Wunsch and Yhency Brazoban polished
off the seventh and eighth, respectively. Giovanni Carrara was
chased in the ninth after putting runners on first and second
with two outs. Eric Gagne allowed an RBIs single before striking
out Shawn Green to notch his third save this season.
"We had our chances against them, but we didn't get a big blow
when we needed to," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "We
had a chance to knock Weaver out early, but we couldn't get that
big, timely one when we needed it."
Cesar Izturis opened the game with a triple against Arizona
starter Russ Ortiz (4-4). Werth followed with a double and
Milton Bradley contributed an RBIs single before Hee-Seop Choi
capped the three-run frame with a sacrifice fly.
Izturis and Werth combined for five hits, three runs and an RBIs
as the Dodgers won a series for the first time since taking two
of three against Cincinnati from May 6-8.
"We went up there being aggressive early and scored some runs,"
Izturis said. "It is part of my job to get on base for those
guys behind me and let them drive me in. I like coming here and
hitting."
Izturis is 8-for-14 in his career against Ortiz. He has 72 hits
this season, which leads the National League and his 26
multi-hit games leads the majors.
"Both Izturis and Werth are very capable," Dodgers manger Jim
Tracy said. "Izturis is a guy who has continued to get better
right before our eyes in every phase of the game. He has become
an offensive threat from either side of the plate.
"Jayson had the best swings today since he returned from his
rehab. Both of those guys understand where they are in the
order because they did it a lot for us last year."
Ortiz was touched for five runs and eight hits, while walking
five in just 3 1/3 innings. It was the righthander's shortest
outing of the season.
"I was too inconsistent with everything," Ortiz said. "I felt
like I was going to throw it to my spot, but it just didn't get
there. It is frustrating when you feel so good. I felt my ball
had pretty good life on it."
Los Angeles is 19-0 this season when leading after seven
innings.