L.A. won Friday in playoff atmosphere

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a playoff mood.

Steve Finley drove in the go-ahead run for the third consecutive game, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning Friday night to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 in a matchup of division leaders.

The Cardinals, who swept the Dodgers at home last weekend, retained a 17-game lead in the NL Central, although they lost for the third time in four games.

"Tremendous game played like a playoff game," Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said.

Scott Rolen drove in the Cardinals' first four runs before leaving with a strained left knee in the fourth inning. He led off the second with his 33rd home run. He fouled a ball off his shin, then injured his calf on a double in the third, which caused swelling in his leg.

About 3,500 fans showed up at Dodger Stadium on Friday to buy playoff tickets. Walkup sales, telephone and Internet orders prompted a sellout of all three potential NL division series home games.-- AP