Ethier clubs three homers as Dodgers down Mariners

Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Andre Ethier crushed three home runs and had a career-high six RBI, powering the Dodgers to an 8-2 win over Seattle in the opener of a three-game interleague series at Chavez Ravine.

“I’m not a home run hitter,” said Ethier. “I was just trying to square it up and drive the ball to the gap. It’s nice to contribute when you can.”

Casey Blake doubled and homered for Los Angeles, which has won four of its last six games. Clayton Kershaw (5-5) tossed six solid innings, limiting the Mariners to two runs and five hits. He struck out eight and walked one.

“They’re an aggressive team, so I tried to get ahead early,” Kershaw said. “I tried to incorporate all of my pitches, and sometimes throwing softer is the way to go.”

Jose Lopez finished 3-for-4 and knocked in both runs for the Mariners, who were defeated for just the third time in their last 10 outings. Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and scored twice.

Jason Vargas (3-3) was touched for five runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings of work.

Los Angeles got on the board early as Ethier hit a three-run homer in the second. Blake led off the inning with a double and took third on a base hit by James Loney. After Russell Martin flied out, Ethier hammered a pitch over the wall in right-center.

Kershaw, meanwhile, was perfect the first time through Seattle’s lineup, but surrendered consecutive singles to Suzuki and Russell Branyan to begin the fourth. Lopez hit a chopper up the middle two batters later to put the Mariners on the board and Franklin Gutierrez walked to load the bases. Kenji Johjima, back from a stint on the disabled list with a fractured left big toe, grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Blake homered to leadoff the home half of the frame and Kershaw helped his own cause with an RBI single in the fifth, extending Los Angeles’ lead to 5-1.

Lopez singled in Suzuki with two gone in the top of the sixth, but Los Angeles countered in the bottom of the frame. Roy Corcoran hit Martin with a pitch and Ethier followed with a blast to the seats in right.

Ethier added a solo shot off Miguel Batista in the eighth.

Game Notes

The last Dodger to hit three home runs in a game was Hee-Seop Choi on June 12, 2005 against Minnesota…Los Angeles improved to 26-10 at home…Ethier upped his home run total to 14…Seattle designated catcher Jamie Burke for assignment to make room on the roster for Johjima.

from: seattlepi.com