DeWitt, Berroa homer to spark Dodgers past Padres

Blake DeWitt and Angel Berroa hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning to put Los Angeles ahead for good, and the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 6-4 on Wednesday night to complete a sweep of the three-game series.

The win was the Dodgers' fifth straight following a season-long eight-game losing streak, and left them 1 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Arizona entering a three-game series between the teams beginning Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Dan Haren (14-7) pitches for the Diamondbacks in the opener against Derek Lowe (11-11).

Both teams are off Thursday before meeting for the final time this season. The Diamondbacks have an 8-7 record against the Dodgers, but lost two of three to Los Angeles in Arizona last weekend.

Casey Blake, hitting cleanup for the first time since being acquired from Cleveland on July 26, homered for the Dodgers, who have scored 33 runs in the last five games after scoring only 15 in the previous eight.

Hiroki Kuroda (8-10) won despite allowing 10 hits and four runs in 5 1-3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts. He gave up 26 hits and 10 earned runs in 39 1-3 innings over his previous six starts.

Jonathan Broxton, the fifth Dodgers pitcher, worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances since taking over the closer's role.

Rookie Chase Headley had three hits and Josh Bard drove in three runs for the Padres, who have lost 11 of 16.

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead off Wade LeBlanc (0-1) in the third when Berroa doubled and scored on a one-out single by Russell Martin. LeBlanc avoided further damage by pitching out of a bases-loaded jam.

The Padres went ahead 3-1 in the fourth on a leadoff homer by Kevin Kouzmanoff, his 20th, and a two-out, two-run double by Bard.

The Dodgers scored four times in their half for a 5-3 lead on a two-run homer by DeWitt, a solo shot by Berroa and an RBI single by Blake. Berroa's homer was his first since Sept. 25, 2006, when he was playing for Kansas City, prompting his teammates to give him the silent treatment when he arrived in the dugout before offering congratulations. Then, the fans urged him out of the dugout for a curtain call.

The Padres drew within one run and chased Kuroda in the sixth, scoring on Bard's RBI single.

San Diego threatened in the seventh before Cory Wade struck out Will Venable with runners at first and third to end the inning. Blake homered off Mike Adams in the bottom half to complete the scoring.

LeBlanc, a 24-year-old left-hander making his big-league debut, allowed eight hits and five runs in four innings.

Notes:@ Dodgers 2B Jeff Kent, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday, made an appearance for the team picture, but left without speaking to reporters. "He feels wonderful compared to how he felt a couple days ago," manager Joe Torre said. "It will still take two or three weeks until he's probably game ready." ... LeBlanc became the 13th San Diego player to make his big-league debut this season. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that's the second-most in franchise history behind 2002, when 16 players did so. ... Torre said closer Takashi Saito is scheduled to throw Thursday before pitching in a simulated game Saturday and another Tuesday or Wednesday, setting up a possible return the weekend of Sept. 13-14. ... Torre said OF Juan Pierre, who pulled up with a back problem while running out a grounder Tuesday night, was much better and could play if necessary. ... Dodgers 1B James Loney went hitless in four at-bats to end his 13-game hitting streak.

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