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Kuo delivers six quality innings for LA Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kuo Hong-chih of Taiwan throws against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday. PHOTO: EPA

Aramis Ramirez's three-run homer in the decisive seventh inning saw the Chicago Cubs rally for a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose post-season push suffered another setback.

The loss, coupled with San Diego's 4-2 win over Cincinnati on Thursday, saw the Dodgers' National League West division lead dwindle to a half-game over the Padres.

The Dodgers were to host a key four-game series against the Padres starting yesterday.

The San Francisco Giants also gained ground in the NL West on Thursday with a 5-0 victory over Colorado.

With the win the Giants inched within three games of the Dodgers in the division and stayed 2.5 games behind San Diego in the wild card race.

It was the second time in the series against the Cubs that the Dodgers blew a lead.

They led 7-0 before dropping the series opener 9-8, then won the middle game 6-0 on Wednesday.

On Thursday, rookie Kuo Hong-chih (郭泓志) of Taiwan gave the Dodgers six quality innings in his second major league start.

He yielded just two runs and seven hits, struck out six without a walk and left with a comfortable 5-2 lead.

In the seventh, Los Angeles reliever Brett Tomko sandwiched two outs around an infield single by rookie Ronny Cedeno before imploding. Juan Pierre reached on a bunt single, rookie Ryan Theriot singled home Cedeno to cut the deficit to two before Ramirez drilled an 0-1 offering deep into the left-center field seats for his 33rd homer to give the Cubs a 6-5 lead.

Braves 4, Phillies 1

In Atlanta, Chuck James pitched seven shutout innings, Andruw Jones hit his 34th homer, and the Braves dropped the Phillies into a second-place tie for the NL wild card.

San Diego, which won 4-2 at Cincinnati, is 2.5 games ahead of Philadelphia and the San Francisco Giants, who beat Colorado 5-0.

Jamie Moyer (2-2) gave up Jones' solo shot in the sixth and a three-run homer to rookie third baseman Martin Prado in the fifth. It was the first homer of Prado's career.

The 43-year-old left-hander allowed four runs and five hits in six innings.

James (10-3) pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. The rookie left-hander has won four straight starts and is 6-0 with a 1.69 ERA in his last eight games.

Bob Wickman worked the ninth for his 14th save in 15 chances.

Padres 4, Reds 2

In Cincinnati, Mike Cameron's bases-loaded single broke open a scoreless game in the seventh inning, and San Diego knocked Cincinnati farther back in the playoff chase.

The Padres secured their wild-card lead and headed for Los Angeles. It's the last time the top two teams in the NL West are scheduled to play this season.

Giants 5, Rockies 0

In San Francisco, Matt Cain allowed two hits in eight innings to win his fourth straight start, and San Francisco gained ground in the NL West race with a victory over Colorado.

Omar Vizquel scored the game's first run in the sixth inning on Moises Alou's double-play grounder, and the Giants rallied for four more in the seventh to win for the eighth time in 11 games.
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