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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- One day after learning his suspension was
upheld, Gary Sheffield used the bad news to his advantage.
Sheffield hit two home runs and had four RBI, helping Kevin
Brown continue his mastery of the San Francisco Giants as the Los
Angeles Dodgers won 9-2 Friday night.
It was Sheffield's 19th career multihomer game, fourth this
season, as the Dodgers won for the third time in four games.
"That was a tough day for me," Sheffield said about his five-day suspension, imposed for his role in the brawl with fans at Wrigley Field in May. "I just tried to forget about it and help the team. I didn't understand the situation, but I got it out of my system."
Dodgers outfielder Shawn Green figured the bad news sparked
something in Sheffield.
"He uses things like that to motivate himself," Green said.
"He's not the type to mope or let things get him down. He uses
adversity to his advantage."
Brown (7-2) allowed two runs on six hits and a season-high five
walks in seven innings as he improved to 8-1 against the Giants in
10 career starts. He also struck out a season-low three.
"I struggled early on, but I was loose," said Brown. "I had
too many walks and not enough strikeouts, but the guys picked me up
tonight."
Todd Hundley hit his 15th homer, becoming the first opponent to
hit a homer into McCovey's Cove, the body of water just outside
Pacific Bell Park. He also hit two doubles for the Dodgers.
Giants starter Russ Ortiz (4-8) allowed six runs on seven hits
and five walks in 3 2/3 innings. While the Giants have the best
home ERA in the majors, Ortiz is 0-4 with a 6.69 ERA at the new
bayfront ballpark.
"It's never been one thing," said Ortiz. "It's always
something different every time out. I had a kind of lousy outing. I
was just missing."
Jeff Kent drove in both of the Giants' runs to increase his
NL-leading total to 78 as San Francisco lost its third straight.
The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the first when Eric Karros hit a
sacrifice fly and Hundley doubled home a run.
Kent drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first, then
later added a run-scoring single in the seventh.
Sheffield led off the third with his 26th homer of the season, a
shot that just cleared the left-field fence near the foul pole.
"It's hard when you give Kevin Brown that kind of lead early,"
said Giants manager Dusty Baker. "He wasn't as sharp as usual, but
I don't know what it takes to beat him."
Alex Cora led off the fourth with a double, and Todd
Hollandsworth walked. With two outs, Sheffield hit the first pitch
from Ortiz into the left-field bleachers to make it 6-1.
"That's the hardest ball I've seen hit all year," said Dodgers
manager Davey Johnson. "Every at-bat is a quality at-bat for
him."
The Giants had three consecutive hits in the third, but failed
score as Green threw out Bill Mueller at third base trying to take an extra base on a hit by Barry Bonds.
Mark Grudzielanek and Karros each drove in runs in the sixth.
Game notes
Bullpen coach Rick Dempsey was the Dodgers' first-base
coach as John Shelby serves his eight-game suspension, a result of
his involvement in the altercation at Wrigley Field on May 16. ...
Giants RHP Mark Gardner is scheduled to pitch one of the games of the day-night doubleheader on July 4 against the Colorado Rockies. ... Dodgers SS Kevin Elster missed his third straight with a sore
left hamstring. ... Sheffield and Karros passed Bonds and Kent as
the NL's top RBI tandem, 137-135. ... The Dodgers have 22 road
wins, tied with St. Louis for most in the NL. ... Giants OF Marvin
Benard is the only regular who has not been charged with an error
this year.
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