Dodgers Feel Perfectly Fine After Comeback

The St. Louis Cardinals are contending for the National League Central title, which indicates a lot about that division.

They definitely haven’t impressed the Dodgers, who remained undefeated against the Cardinals with an 8-5 victory Friday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers rallied from an early 3-0 deficit before 43,504 in improving to 4-0 against St. Louis, overcoming a shaky start from Kazuhisa Ishii, who gave up three home runs in six innings.

But the Dodgers (51-44) displayed rare resiliency on offense. They pounded 11 hits to climb out of the hole, taking a 6-5 lead in a three-run sixth while chasing Cardinal starter Brett Tomko.

It was a group effort, with the Dodgers getting big performances from newcomers Rickey Henderson and Jeromy Burnitz.

Henderson had a home run and singled. The future Hall of Famer received a standing ovation after connecting on a leadoff solo shot to straightaway center off Tomko in the third -- his first homer since Aug. 17 last season.

“It was a two-strike count, I was just trying to make contact,” said Henderson, appreciative that fans chanted “Rick-ey, Rick-ey,” after the 296th homer of his career. “It was good to hear. These are Dodger fans.”

Burnitz had two run-scoring singles to help atone for his defensive miscue in center in the third. Frustrated right fielder Shawn Green had two doubles, scored three runs and drove in one, and struggling infielder-outfielder Daryle Ward contributed an RBI pinch-hit.

“The past is gone,” Green said. “We’re hitting better.”

Just the type of balance Manager Jim Tracy has hoped for all along.

“A lot of contributions from a lot of different areas of the lineup,” he said. “And Ishii got us involved in the flow of the game, and didn’t allow the game to get away, after a leadoff walk, a home run and then another home run to start the game.”

Ishii (9-3) continued his run of good fortune. The often erratic left-hander won for the second time in as many starts despite giving up homers to Jim Edmonds (No. 29), Albert Pujols (No. 28) and Edgar Renteria (No. 10).

Closer Eric Gagne did his thing again in the ninth to nail down the Dodgers’ third consecutive victory. Gagne earned his 33rd save in as many opportunities this season, and 41st in a row over two seasons.

The latter total puts Gagne second on the all-time list for consecutive saves, tying him with Rod Beck and Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres. Tom Gordon of the Chicago White Sox holds the record, having converted 54 in a row.

The Dodgers remained 7 1/2 games behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the NL West, and the Cardinals (49-47) dropped three games behind the Houston Astros in the Central. Cal Eldred (3-3) worked two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.

“They’ve been playing good against us, that’s really all you can say about it,” said Tomko, who gave up six hits and was charged with five runs in 5 1/3 innings. “And picking up Rickey and Burnitz is going to help them a bit.”

It has so far against St. Louis.

The Dodgers put it together in the sixth. Green opened the inning with his second double, and Burnitz walked with one out to put runners at the corners for Adrian Beltre.

Cardinal Manager Tony La Russa summoned Eldred to face Beltre, who drove in Green with a fly ball to left, cutting the deficit to 5-4. After David Ross walked, Cesar Izturis singled to drive in Burnitz and tie the score.

Tracy summoned Ward to hit for Ishii, and Ward singled -- his fourth pinch-hit in 23 at-bats -- to score Ross and give the Dodgers their first lead, 6-5.

“They say it takes 25 men to win, and today was a good example of that,” said Ward, batting .187 with nine runs batted in.

“You’ve got nine guys on the field who are going to do a great job, but sometimes they need assistance. You had a lot of guys step up and get hits when we needed them. We’re just happy that we’re able to contribute off the bench.”