Orlando Hudson hits 2 homers as Dodgers cap best start in 32 years with 7-4 win over Brewers

Dodgers beat Brewers to cap best start in 32 years

MILWAUKEE — Manny Ramirez says he’s eager to return to the home fans in Los Angeles. If the Dodgers continue the second half like the first, they could be playing deep into October.

Ramirez continued his torrid pace since returning from a 50-game drug suspension and All-Star Orlando Hudson homered twice to help the Dodgers finish with the majors’ best record at the All-Star break with a 7-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I’m excited, I can’t wait to go home,” said Ramirez, who hasn’t played at Dodger Stadium since May 6. “That’s my town.”

At 56-32, Los Angeles is off to its best start since 1977 and leads the NL West by seven games over San Francisco.

“We can’t get complacent,” Hudson said. “We’ve still got a long way to go. Pitch well, play defense and have quality at-bats and still have a lot of fun. We’ll see where we’re at in October.”

Ramirez doubled in the first, singled in the third, walked in the fifth and doubled in the seventh. He’s 11 for 29 with three homers, nine RBIs and eight runs in nine games since returning and plans to play Thursday night when the Dodgers start a four-game series with Houston.

“The main thing I’m worried about is my legs and I’m getting there day by day, so we’ve still got three more months to go and I’m going to get there,” the slugger said.

Promising young left-hander Clayton Kershaw (7-5) won his fifth consecutive decision on the road with six solid innings and is 4-0 with a microscopic 0.76 ERA in his last six starts.

The Brewers stumbled into the break by losing eight of 11 to fall out of the NL Central lead.

“The fortunate thing is we’re still in the hunt,” Brewers manager Ken Macha said.

Hudson, who had been in a 3-for-41 slump, homered in the sixth and eighth after chasing Yovani Gallardo, who lost his third straight start and allowed five runs and six hits in five innings.

The Dodgers continued their power surge, belting 10 homers in the three-game series after hitting seven in the previous eight games.

“Everybody wants to end the first half strong,” Hudson said. “Because now it’s (time for) the dog days of summer.”

At Denver, All-Star Brad Hawpe hit a game-ending RBI double to cap Colorado’s rally from a 7-3 deficit after six innings.

Hawpe, Smith and Troy Tulowitzki homered for the Rockies and Huston Street (3-1) got the win.

Brooks Conrad hit a two-run homer and finished with three hits for Atlanta.

At Chicago, Ryan Ludwick hit a pair of two-run homers, Adam Wainwright pitched eight strong innings and St. Louis salvaged a split by beating Chicago in the second game of a day-night doubleheader.

Wainwright (10-5) improved to 3-0 against the Cubs this season, and Ryan Franklin earned his 21st save. Randy Wells (4-4) took the loss.

In the opener, Chicago’s Carlos Zambrano (5-4) homered for the third time this season and earned a win with six solid innings. Micah Hoffpauir hit a three-run homer for the Cubs.

At Philadelphia, Pedro Feliz hit a first-inning grand slam and J.A. Happ pitched seven innings to help the Phillies cap a 9-1 homestand.

The Phillies scored five times in the first against rookie Virgil Vazquez (1-3) and have won five straight.

Happ (6-0) allowed one run and four hits. Ryan Madson tossed a scoreless eighth inning and J.C. Romero worked the ninth.

At Phoenix, All-Star Josh Johnson pitched into the seventh inning and Cody Ross drove in three runs with a pair of doubles for Florida.

Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer and NL batting leader Hanley Ramirez singled three times as the Marlins entered the All-Star break two games above .500 and four back of NL East-leading Philadelphia.

Johnson (8-2) allowed a run and seven hits over 6 2-3 innings in his first victory in four starts.

Doug Davis (4-9) gave up five runs and seven hits in four innings for Arizona.

At New York, Gary Sheffield had three RBIs and Daniel Murphy drove in two runs to spark the Mets’ best offensive game in weeks.

Fernando Tatis and Brian Schneider homered in the seventh, breaking an 80-inning home run drought for New York.

Mike Pelfrey (7-4) pitched seven solid innings to get the win. Francisco Rodriguez gave up a run in the ninth but finished for his 22nd save.

Reds starter Aaron Harang (5-9) left after three innings, allowing five runs and eight hits.

At Houston, Kaz Matsui hit a three-run homer and Brian Moehler won for the fourth time in five decisions.

Moehler (6-5) allowed seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. Jose Valverde got the last four outs for his eighth save of the season and the 150th of his career.

Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (3-4) also worked 6 1-3 innings, and was charged with four runs, three earned, and five hits.

At San Francisco, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Eliezer Alfonzo hit three-run homers, Will Venable also connected and set a career high with four hits, and San Diego snapped a season-high seven-game skid.

Kevin Correia (6-7) pitched five-plus innings for his career-best sixth win of the season and Luis Rodriguez drove in a pair of runs for the Padres, who set a season high for scoring.

Barry Zito (5-9) gave up nine runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings for San Francisco.