Pirates are throttled by Dodgers at home

PITTSBURGH

The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t need Manny Ramirez or Andre Ethier, Casey Blake or Russell Martin to finally find a way to beat what is usually one of the majors’ worst teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Manager Joe Torre simply plugged in a bunch of backups, and a lot of hits followed.

Ronnie Belliard homered among three extra base hits and drove in four runs, and the Dodgers won 10-2 on Thursday to avoid being swept in a three-game series by the Pirates for the first time in 10 years.

The Dodgers didn’t start five regulars, including middle-of-the-lineup hitters Ethier (sore left ankle) and Ramirez (day off), but still got 16 hits off four pitchers, including 10 from their No. 1-4 hitters. Reed Johnson doubled among three hits and scored twice, and Matt Kemp, James Loney and Garret Anderson drove in two runs each.

“They’re an aggressive-hitting team,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “You throw the ball over the middle of the plate, they’re going to make you pay.”

The Dodgers hadn’t been swept in a three-game series by Pittsburgh since Sept. 4-6, 2000, in Los Angeles. The last such sweep in Pittsburgh was May 31-June 2, 1999, when the Pirates played in Three Rivers Stadium.

Belliard, making a spot start after losing the second baseman’s job to Blake DeWitt, hit a two-run homer off Paul Maholm (0-1) in the fifth to make it 4-0. Belliard added a run-scoring triple during a breakout four-run seventh against reliever Hayden Penn.

Belliard doubled in the ninth, finishing 3 for 5 and a single short of the cycle.

Indians-white sox

CHICAGO

Asdrubal Cabrera hit a tie-breaking, two-out single in the 11th inning and Grady Sizemore drove in three runs, leading Cleveland to a 5-3 victory over Chicago.

Luis Valbuena opened the 11th with a bunt single off J.J. Putz (0-1). He went to second on Lou Marson’s sacrifice and, after Putz struck out Michael Brantley, Cabrera dumped a single into right field to put Cleveland ahead. Sizemore followed with his second RBI double of the night.

Jensen Lewis (1-0) worked 12‚Ñ3 scoreless innings. Chris Perez pitched a perfect 11th for his second save.