Dodgers jump on top in N.L. West race

Manny Ramirez had three chances to hurt the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday in Los Angeles. He came through twice, and that was more than enough for the streaking Dodgers.

After striking out on three pitches with the bases loaded in the third inning, Ramirez hit a three-run homer and a two-run double in his next two at-bats, leading the Dodgers to a 7-2 victory over 19-game winner Brandon Webb that gave them sole possession of first place in the N.L. West for the first time since April 4.

“He was just setting them up right there,” teammate Russell Martin said with a smile. “He got them the next time around. I need to learn that.”

Chad Billingsley took a shutout into the seventh for the Dodgers, who won their seventh straight after an eight-game skid to move a half-game ahead of Arizona entering today’s finale of their three-game series – the last regular-season game between the teams this season.

“We got hammered two days in a row here and have lost the last four to them, so we need to respond tomorrow,” said Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, whose team has dropped nine of 12. “There’s no doubt. We’ll see what we’re made of tomorrow. We’ve been in first place for quite a while. Now it’s our turn to respond tomorrow and take it back.”

The Diamondbacks had either held or shared first place since April 5.

Other N.L. highlights

Cubs 14, Reds 9: Alfonso Soriano homered three times – two solo shots and a three-run blast – from the leadoff spot and Chicago won at Cincinnati to snap a season-high six-game skid.

Brewers 1, Padres 0: Ben Sheets pitched a five-hitter for his career-high 13th win and Milwaukee beat visiting San Diego. Sheets outpitched Padres ace Jake Peavy. The Brewers trail the Cubs by four games in the Central and lead the Phillies by 41/2 games in the wild-card race.

Astros 2, Rockies 0: Roy Oswalt tossed a one-hitter – the second in Coors Field history – and Houston beat Colorado. Hideo Nomo of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a no-hitter on Sept. 17, 1996, and Pat Rapp of the Florida Marlins threw a one-hitter on Sept. 17, 1995.

A.L. highlights

Blue Jays 7, Rays 4 (13): Gregg Zaun hit a game-ending grand slam in the 13th inning and Toronto beat East-leading Tampa Bay for its seventh straight win. The Rays lead over the Red Sox remained at 21/2 games.

•The Rays activated Evan Longoria from the 15-day disabled list, although the rookie slugger likely won’t see game action until Friday.

White Sox 7, Angels 6 (15): Jim Thome homered in the 15th inning to move past Mickey Mantle into 14th place on the career list with 537 and give Chicago a win over visiting Los Angeles. The White Sox extended their lead over the second-place Twins to 21/2 games in the Central.

Rangers 15, Red Sox 8: Tim Wakefield allowed seven runs in a span of nine batters in the second inning of his 500th career game for Boston and Texas went on to end the Red Sox’s four-game winning streak. Boston remained 51/2 games ahead of the Twins in the wild-card race.

Tigers 6, Twins 4: Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez each hit two-run homers in the eighth inning and Detroit beat Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Postponements

The remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna washed away the Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets game and the first game of an Oakland A’s at Baltimore Orioles doubleheader. The Mets and Phillies will play a day-night doubleheader today. New York has a two-game lead over Philadelphia in the N.L. East race. No makeup date has been set for the A’s and Orioles game.

Cepeda gets statue

A 9-foot bronzed statue of Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda was unveiled at the ballpark in San Francisco during a ceremony before the Giants game against Pittsburgh.

“Wow … wow,” Cepeda said, choking back tears while speaking to the crowd. “When things like this happen to you in life, that’s when I say to myself, ‘Orlando, you are a very lucky person.’ ”