Dodgers Win Fifth Straight, Complete Sweep of Giants

The Giants have struggled to start the season, winning just twice in nine tries. But obviously, they'll get no sympathy from the Dodgers. Behind a lead-off homer from Rafael Furcal and five string innings from Eric Stults, L.A. cruised to a 7-2 win over their arch-rivals at Dodger Stadium.

Furcal opened the game for the Dodgers offensively with a solo shot in the bottom of the first, which was followed by Matt Kemp and Casey Blake each knocking in runs in the second to put L.A. up 3-1.

The Giants struck back in the fifth to close the deficit to just one, on a double to left from Pablo Sandoval that scored Emmanuel Burriss. Stults escaped the inning without allowing any more scoring, and that concluded a night where he gave up two runs on five hits over five innings.

That was enough to get the decision, thanks to some more offense from his teammates in the sixth.

The Giants' Barry Zito opened the inning by hitting Russell Martin with a pitch, then loaded the bases with consecutive walks to Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. He was relieved by Brandon Medders, but the damage was done.

Casey Blake scored Martin on a sacrifice fly, before Doug Mientkiewicz (pinch-hitting for James McDonald) doubled to right, blowing the game open and giving the Dodgers a comfortable cushion at 6-2. It wasn't all smiles for Mientkiewicz, however, as he ended up dislocating his shoulder while sliding head first into second.

L.A. grabbed one more run in the seventh, on a botched double play ball that was hit to Burriss by Matt Kemp. Burriss did his job by flipping it to Renteria at second, but Renteria's throw to first was wide, which allowed James Loney to score and Kemp to reach safely.

Manny Ramirez went 0-4 on the night, and has yet to hit a home run this season. With the Dodgers riding a five-game winning streak and having just completed a sweep of their Bay Area rivals, it was something he felt comfortable joking about afterwards.

"I'm a table setter," he said, laughing, as he walked out of the clubhouse.