DODGERS MAKE GAINS WIN VS. PIRATES GETS L.A. CLOSER TO DIVISION LEAD DODGERS 10, PITTSBURGH 5.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

The Dodgers did something Thursday they failed to accomplish in more than three weeks: they gained ground in the National League West.

Third baseman Adrian Beltre had his second consecutive three-hit game and scored three times, Shawn Green hit his 32nd homer of the year and the Dodgers took advantage of four Pittsburgh errors in a 10-5 victory over the Pirates on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.

With first-place Arizona losing, it was the first time since July 14 the Dodgers gained ground on the Arizona Diamondbacks, who lead the Dodgers in the NL West by six games. The Dodgers are 9-14 since then and Arizona is 16-8.

The Dodgers also moved back into the wild-card lead, one half-game ahead of San Francisco.

Beltre's two-run homer in the fifth inning gave the Dodgers a 5-4 lead, but it was short-lived as reliever Kevin Beirne allowed a leadoff homer to Craig Wilson in the sixth.

However, an RBI bloop single by Cesar Izturis gave the Dodgers a 6-5 lead in the sixth, and Beltre started a two-run rally in the seventh with an infield single. He scored on Brian Jordan's single to center and Green scored on Mark Grudzielanek's two-out base hit to left as the Dodgers took an 8-5 lead.

However, Beltre left the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. He appeared to land awkwardly on his left foot when he stretched to beat out the infield single.

Green added a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth off Pirates reliever Josias Manzanillo to give the Dodgers a 10-5 lead.

It was the most runs the Dodgers scored at home since the All-Star break, and the resurgence of Beltre was a huge part of it.

Beltre's two-run homer in the fifth inning was his ninth since the All-Star break. He's batting .340 (33 for 97) with 26 RBI and scored 17 runs in 26 games. That comes after a first half in which Beltre hit seven home runs and drove in 29 runs.

When Beltre had his torrid second half in 2000, he batted .358 (34 for 95) with four homers, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored in the first 26 games. His production is even better this season.

In the next week the Dodgers will have to decide which starter loses a spot in the rotation when Kevin Brown comes back, but the organization is inclined to keep Ishii in the mix.

Though Kazuhisa Ishii is winless in his last five starts and allowed four earned runs or more for the fifth consecutive start, he still leads the team in wins and has the reputation of being a big-game pitcher. That combination likely will send left-hander Omar Daal back to the bullpen, but the Dodgers would like to make sure Ishii is straightened out.

He allowed four runs, all in the third inning, against Pittsburgh, but wasn't involved in the decision. He is 0-2 with a 7.92 ERA in his last five starts, and walks continue to be an issue. He leads the major leagues with 91 after issuing five more, two of which scored.

Ishii also failed to keep an early lead for the second start in a row. The Dodgers scored twice in the fifth inning Saturday in Philadelphia, but Ishii couldn't hold it and lasted five innings.

Two errors, two walks and sacrifice flies from Brian Jordan and Eric Karros gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first against Pittsburgh starter Jimmy Anderson, but Ishii gave it back in the third.

Pokey Reese homered with one out. After walks to Jason Kendall and Jack Wilson and a fly ball out, Amaris Ramirez singled in a run. Adam Hyzdu walked to load the bases and Kevin Young plated two runs with a base hit to left to give Pittsburgh a 4-3 lead.

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(color) Dodgers starter Kazuhisa Ishii allowed four runs against the Pirates on Thursday and did not figure in the decision.

Krista Niles/Associated Press

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