Dodgers turn up heat against Cards

ST. LOUIS -- Rookie David Ross and Cesar Izturis drove in two runs apiece as the Los Angeles Dodgers, enjoying another rare burst of offense, beat the Cardinals 6-5 Wednesday night.

The Dodgers got to Brett Tomko for five runs in the fourth and scored six runs for the first time since June 25. They've totaled 11 runs the last two games, after scoring 20 in the previous 11. Los Angeles entered the game with an NL-low .240 average.

Scott Rolen homered and had two RBIs for the Cardinals, who have lost three in a row. Bo Hart singled, walked, stole a base and drove in a run.

Kazuhisa Ishii (8-3) gave up four runs in 5 1-3 innings, winning for the first time in four starts, and the Dodgers ended a three-game losing streak and won for the third time in 16 games overall. Paul Shuey escaped a sixth-inning, bases-loaded jam by striking out Albert Pujols with the bases loaded for the final out. Eric Gagne got the last four outs for his 31st save in 31 opportunities -- 39th in a row dating back to last year.

Tomko (5-6) lasted six innings, giving up six runs on eight hits. He's given up NL highs for runs (82) and hits (153) in 118 innings and was second in the NL with 22 homers allowed, two behind Ben Sheets of the Brewers.

Ross was 2-for-2 with two walks, and his fifth homer in 50 at-bats this season put the Dodgers ahead in the third. Hart singled, stole second and scored on Rolen's single to tie it in the bottom of the third.

The Dodgers broke the game open in the fourth with Izturis' two-run single capping a five-run burst. Chad Hermansen, Jolbert Cabrera and Ross drove in a run apiece.

Edgar Renteria singled to start the bottom of the fourth, stole second and scored on a balk and wild pitch to narrow the gap to 6-4. Rolen hit his 17th homer off Shuey leading off the seventh to make it a one-run game.

Noteworthy

The Dodgers are 37-1 when leading after seven innings.

Tomko is 0-3 at home and 5-3 on the road.

The Dodgers haven't scored more than six runs since June 18, when they beat the Giants 8-2.

Pujols was hitless in four at-bats and is in a 1-for-12 slump.