Dodgers Get Deep-Sixed and Swept

The Dodgers welcome the Chicago Cubs to Dodger Stadium tonight for the start of a three-game series between division leaders.

The Dodgers, however, hardly look the part.

That much was evident again Thursday night when the Cincinnati Reds completed a sweep of the Dodgers with a 7-4 victory before 30,171.

The Reds hit a season-high six home runs--four against starter Luke Prokopec--and held off the Dodgers to extend their winning streak to six games.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, lost their fourth in a row, but kept their half-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League West because the Diamondbacks lost to the Montreal Expos, 1-0.

Just off the pace lurk the streaking San Francisco Giants, who pulled within one game of the Dodgers with a 3-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Giants’ eighth win in a row.

“It’s a three-horse race,” Dodger Manager Jim Tracy said.

The Dodgers, who made their run to first place in the National League West by beating up on the weaker teams from the Central and West divisions, need to turn it around quickly so as not to get left in the dust.

“It’s not going to get any easier,” catcher Paul Lo Duca said. “We have to somehow scratch and claw to get out of this funk.”

Prokopec (6-6), who beat the Reds on May 3, gave up five runs and six hits in four innings, his shortest start since giving up six runs and nine hits in four innings against the Florida Marlins on May 8.

Aaron Boone, Jason LaRue, Ken Griffey Jr. and Dmitri Young hit home runs against Prokopec and staked the Reds to a 5-0 lead after four innings.

Elmer Dessens (8-8), coming off a six-hit shutout against the Marlins last Saturday, gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Danny Graves pitched the final inning for his 19th save.

Boone, who had four hits in Wednesday’s 10-5 victory over the Dodgers, started the barrage by leading off the second inning with a shot into the left-field bleachers for his 13th homer. One out later, LaRue hit his eighth for a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Griffey hit his second homer in as many nights and his 10th of the season to make it 3-0.

Prokopec walked Boone to start the fourth then surrendered Young’s 12th homer to fall behind, 5-0.

Young also homered in the sixth against Giovanni Carrara for the first multihomer game of his career.

The Dodgers scored four runs in the sixth to make it a game.

McKay Christensen led off with his first homer. One out later, Gary Sheffield doubled and Shawn Green singled to set the stage for Lo Duca’s two-run single to left that made the score, 6-3, and chased Dessens.

Chris Nichting got Eric Karros to pop up but gave up a run-scoring double to Adrian Beltre that pulled the Dodgers to within two runs.

Hector Mercado, however, replaced Nichting and got Alex Cora to ground out to second for the third out.

LaRue gave the Reds their final run when he homered against Mike Trombley in the eighth.

While the Dodgers are struggling, the Reds are 9-3 since July 19 when they acquired second baseman Todd Walker from the Colorado Rockies and promoted outfielder Adam Dunn.

The Reds have won five consecutive games at Dodger Stadium and seven of nine dating to last season.

“There’s definitely a different atmosphere,” Boone said before the game. “When we get decent pitching we feel we can play with anyone and that’s what we’re planning on doing the next few months.

“We’re looking to going out there and playing the spoiler role. We have a chance to have an effect on a lot of races. We also feel we want to repay the beatings we’ve been taking.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

NL WEST

*--*

W L GB Dodgers 61 48 -- Arizona 60 48 1/2 San Francisco 60 49 1 San Diego 53 55 7 1/2 Colorado 45 63 15 1/2

*--*