MLS: GALAXY CARRIED BY HERCULEZ VAULTS PAST FC DALLAS TO 2ND GALAXY 4, COLORADO 1.

Byline: Fred J. Robledo Staff Writer

CARSON - The Galaxy on Saturday avoided its first three-game home losing streak since 1997 and appeared to break out of a 3-9-3 rut dating to mid-June, leaping back into second place in the Western Conference with a commanding 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in front of 25,874 at Home Depot Center.

Rookie sensation Herculez Gomez scored two goals - his sixth and seventh of the season - Landon Donovan added another, and Guillermo Ramirez converted a late penalty kick as L.A. overtook slumping FC Dallas.

The Galaxy used a man advantage, after Nat Borchers was excused with his second yellow card in the 21st minute, to climb back to .500 (11-11-5, 38 points), build a nice cushion over the fourth-place Rapids (9-12-4, 31 points) and pull a point ahead of FC Dallas (10-9-6, 36 points), which is winless in 10 games - including all five at new Pizza Hut Park - following a 2-1 loss to D.C. United.

``It's that time when we've got to bring up the anchor and start to pull away,'' said Gomez, who scored in the seventh and 66th minutes. ``It is our time, and we started playing like a team. If we can come out like today and keep winning our individual battles, we'll have no worries.''

Donovan's return from World Cup qualifying duty was certainly beneficial. He scored a fine header from Cobi Jones' cross in the 24th minute, and Borchers' yellows were product of Colorado's decision to target the Galaxy star.

``For once, it was punished,'' Galaxy coach Steve Sampson said.

Kyle Beckerman cut the Galaxy's lead in half in the 48th minute, but Gomez's second goal, from Ned Grabavoy's feed, took the Rapids out of the game.

Fred Robledo, [phone]

fred.robledo(at)sgvn.com