Aug 8, 2008 10:30 pm US/Pacific
Sharp Penny Returns From DL To Beat Giants
ST. LOUIS, MO (AP) ―
Brad Penny finally looked like an ace in his return from the disabled list, Jeff Kent drove in three runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Friday night.
Casey Blake and Danny Ardoin each hit a home run for the Dodgers, who won for the fourth time in six games. Angel Berroa also drove in a run.
Bengie Molina hit a home run and doubled in a run for the Giants, who lost their third straight to the Dodgers.
Penny (6-9), who was activated before the game, ended a personal seven-game losing streak. On a strict pitch count, he gave up one hit and one run in five innings to win for the first time since May 2. He walked three and did not strike out a batter for the second straight start.
The right-hander had been out nearly two months because of a right shoulder injury. It was his first start since allowing seven runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings at Detroit on June 14.
Cory Wade pitched an inning and Chan Ho Park went 2 2-3 innings, walking two in the ninth before Jonathan Broxton came on to get the final out for his seventh save in 12 chances.
Barry Zito (6-14), who pitched eight scoreless innings in his last start, gave up five runs, all in the third inning, on six hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out one. Zito dropped to 2-10 at home.
Ardoin led off the third with his first home run since Sept. 25, 2005, also against the Giants. Penny and Matt Kemp followed with singles and Russell Martin walked ahead of Kent's bases-clearing double. Kent drew within one RBI of Mickey Mantle (1,509) for 47th on the career list.
The Dodgers have won 17 of their last 22 games in San Francisco.
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