LOS ANGELES – Derek Lowe pitched six solid innings, pinch-hitter Jason Phillips drove in the go-ahead runs in a six-run sixth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2.

Lowe (12-14) allowed five hits and two runs before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the decisive sixth, when the Dodgers mounted a two-out rally to snap a 2-all tie and send the Pirates to their fifth loss in six games.

Jayson Werth hit a one-out double off Josh Fogg (6-11), and Brian Myrow, batting for Lowe, drew a two-out walk before John Grabow relieved. Willy Aybar walked to load the bases before Phillips singled to drive in Werth and Myrow.

Oscar Robles followed with another single to score Aybar, and Phillips came home when center fielder Tike Redman committed an error on the play. Dioner Navarro’s two-run single off Ryan Vogelsong completed the rally.

Aybar hit an RBI double off Matt Capps in the seventh to make it 9-2.

Craig Wilson opened the second by hitting his fourth homer to put the Pirates ahead 1-0.

Robles gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead by hitting his fourth homer in the fifth – a two-out, two-run shot into the lower right-field seats that snapped rookie Ian Snell’s 14-inning scoreless streak. Lowe opened the inning by drawing a four-pitch walk.

The Pirates tied it in the top of the sixth when Rob Mackowiak hit a two-out single and scored on a double by Humberto Cota.

Snell allowed five hits and two runs in five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander pitched eight innings in his previous start to earn his first big league victory as the Pirates beat Roger Clemens and the Houston Astros 7-0.

The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the first before Antonio Perez grounded into an inning-ending double play. They threatened again in the second, putting runners at second and third with one out before Snell pitched out of trouble.

The Pirates stranded two runners in the third, and Wilson walked and Mackowiak singled to start the fourth. Lowe then retired the next eight batters before giving up the sixth-inning hits by Mackowiak and Cota.

Notes: The Dodgers have won 17 of their last 20 games against the Pirates. … Pittsburgh has homered in seven straight games to equal a season high. … Lowe lowered his ERA to 3.63 – lowest among the 22 big league pitchers with 13 or more losses. He has allowed 28 homers this season – 11 more than his previous career high. … Pirates rookie 2B Freddy Sanchez singled in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He’s hitting over .400 during the streak. … Dodgers 2B Jeff Kent, who leads the team in almost every offensive category, took the day off. … Rookie Pittsburgh 1B Brad Eldred didn’t start because of an injured right hamstring, although he said before the game he felt fine. “The trainer recommended he didn’t play today just to be cautious,” interim manager Pete Mackanin said.

AP-ES-09-25-05 1907EDT

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