Nomo goes deep as Dodgers beat Cardinals

AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hideo Nomo pitched six strong innings and added a two-run homer and an RBI double, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers over the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 Thursday night.

Nomo (10-8) limited the Cardinals to two hits and one unearned run while walking four and striking out five. He threw 85 pitches in addition to running the bases on a hot, humid night.

The extra-base hits were the first this season by Nomo, as were the RBIs. Nomo, who entered with five singles in 41 at-bats, had never driven in multiple runs in a game.

Adrian Beltre also drove in three runs for the Dodgers, who won their second straight after losing 15 of 19.

The Cardinals had their three-game winning streak snapped while losing for the ninth time in 15 games.

The game was the first in a Los Angeles uniform for outfielders Rickey Henderson and Jeromy Burnitz, acquired during the All-Star break.

The 44-year-old Henderson, baseball's all-time leader in runs scored, walks and stolen bases, went 1-for-4. He signed with the Dodgers after playing 56 games for Newark of the independent Atlantic League.

Burnitz, traded to the Dodgers by the New York Mets for three minor leaguers, went hitless in four at-bats.

Nomo hit a 1-1 pitch from Garrett Stephenson (4-10) into the left field pavilion in the third to snap a scoreless tie. It was Nomo's third career homer in his 432nd at-bat.

The Cardinals got an unearned run in the fourth on third baseman Beltre's throwing error, but he atoned by hitting his seventh homer in the Dodgers' half.

Nomo doubled home Cesar Izturis later in the fourth to make it 4-1, and received a standing ovation when he returned to the dugout after the inning.

Beltre added a two-out, two-run single off Jeff Fassero in the fifth.

Albert Pujols hit a two-out double off Guillermo Mota in the eighth to drive in the second St. Louis run. Right fielder Shawn Green then made a diving catch of Scott Rolen's blooper to end the inning.

Eduardo Perez's run-scoring groundout made it 6-3 in the ninth, but Eric Gagne got the final out, earning his 32nd save in 32 opportunities. It was Gagne's 40th straight save overall, not counting his blown save and loss in Tuesday's All-Star game.

Henderson, one of the most productive leadoff batters in baseball history, received a warm welcome from the Dodger Stadium crowd of 40,331. He worked the count full in his first major league at-bat of the season before lining to center.

He lined another full-count pitch to center for a single in his second at-bat -- immediately after Nomo's homer. Henderson struck out in his last two at-bats.

Stephenson allowed six hits and four runs in four innings.

All-Star outfielder Jim Edmonds was a late scratch for St. Louis because of soreness in his right shoulder.

Notes: Instead of wearing his familiar No. 24, Henderson wore No. 25. Hall of Famer Walter Alston wore No. 24 while managing the Dodgers and that number has been retired by the team. ... Rolen had gone hitless in 12 straight at-bats before hitting a single in the fourth. ... The Dodgers optioned OF Chin-Feng Chen and RHP Alfredo Gonzalez to Triple-A Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League to make room for Burnitz and Henderson. ... Barring anything unforeseen, Dodgers RHP Kevin Brown will come off the disabled list Saturday and start against the Cardinals. Brown, 10-4 with a 2.30 ERA, hasn't pitched since straining an abdominal muscle July 3 while running the bases against San Diego. "He ran much better yesterday," manager Jim Tracy said. ... The Cardinals won 50 games following the All-Star break in each of the last two seasons, going 50-26 two years ago and 50-29 last year.