Dodgers Beat Marlins in Grand Finale

The Dodgers were swept in Phoenix and fought fans in Chicago during their longest trip this season.

Otherwise, they had a blast.

The Dodgers capped their successful 14-day trip with a 12-3 victory Sunday afternoon over the struggling Florida Marlins--tying a National League record with two grand slams in support of starter Kevin Brown.

Adrian Beltre hit his first grand slam during the Dodgers’ five-run fifth inning against Marlin starter Jesus Sanchez (4-3), and Shawn Green his third during a seven-run ninth against closer Antonio Alfonseca as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep before 15,538 at Pro Player Stadium.

“They’re good,” said Marlin Manager John Boles, whose team dropped its fourth in a row and sixth in seven games. “They pounded us real good, and that’s a heck of a lineup. There is no rest in that lineup. They come at you with some firepower.”

The home runs by Beltre and Green marked only the third time in franchise history that the Dodgers hit two grand slams in a game. The team’s 17-hit attack provided more highlights from a 7-4 trip. Not that Brown needed much support against one of his former teams.

He was impressive while winning for the first time since defeating the Marlins April 30. Brown (3-1) retired 17 in a row from the third through eighth and pitched his first complete game.

The Dodgers won their fifth in a row, seventh in eight games and improved to 24-17. They trail the Arizona Diamondbacks by only two games in the National League West after falling a season-high 6 1/2 games behind them after being swept at Bank One Ballpark to open the trip.

But that seems long ago to the Dodgers, who turned their trip around and went home happy.

“Me and [outfielder] F.P. [Santangelo] were talking about that,” Green said. “After how those first three games went in Arizona, we could have really dropped our heads. You have three big games in Arizona, and to come out of there like that would have been tough for a lot of teams.

“But this is the way this team has been all year. We don’t ever let anything affect our approach. That’s the difference between a young team and a veteran team. You don’t have as many ups and downs. You’re more consistent.”

Green sets the standard.

He has been a steadying force in the improved lineup and a major run-producer. With two out in the ninth and the bases loaded, Green hit Alfonseca’s first pitch, sending the ball over the wall in right-center for his eighth homer.

Gary Sheffield, who hit a grand slam in Saturday’s 12-6 victory, followed with a solo shot to left--his team-leading 14th homer. Sheffield and Green also teamed for the club’s other back-to-back homers this season April 30 against the Marlins at Dodger Stadium.

Green and Beltre made history.

The Dodgers had not hit two grand slams in a game since Pedro Guerrero and Mariano Duncan accomplished the feat Aug. 23, 1985, against the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium. Joe Kelley and Samuel Sheckard hit two grand slams for the Brooklyn Dodgers on Sept. 23, 1901, at Cincinnati.

The Dodgers have hit six grand slams this season.

“Really? I didn’t know that,” said Beltre, who hit his fifth homer. “It’s great just to get my first one. I’ve had some opportunities before but I didn’t get it done. It’s just a great feeling.”

Brown had a similar feeling on the mound.

The Marlins took a 1-0 lead in the first after third baseman Beltre committed his 11th error. Brown shut down the Marlins until Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer in the ninth.

He gave up seven hits and three runs (two earned). Typically, Brown had outstanding command, striking out six without a walk while throwing 81 strikes in 116 pitches.

“It was a great job by the offense,” said Brown, who had a loss and three no-decisions in his previous four starts. “We did a great job offensively swinging the bats. It’s a lot easier to pitch with a five-run lead where every pitch is not the difference in the game.”

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It’s a Grand Old Game

Baseball had its grandest day with a record six grand slams Sunday. Some other grand slam numbers:

58--In the major leagues this season. The record for a season is 141, set in 1996. There were 139 hit last season.

6--By the Dodgers this season, equaling the Los Angeles record set in 1960 and tied in 1977, 1979, 1985.

4--By Angels’ Garret Anderson in his career, including one Sunday.

3--By Dodgers’ Shawn Green in his career, including one Sunday.

2--By the Dodgers Sunday, tying a National League record. The Dodgers also accomplished the feat in 1901 (Joe Kelley and Samuel Sheckard) and 1985 (Pedro Guerrero and Mariano Duncan).

1--By Dodgers’ Adrian Beltre Sunday, the first of his career.

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Note: Other grand slams Sunday were hit by Oakland’s Jason Giambi, San Francisco’s J.T. Snow and Philadelphia’s Brian Hunter.