Dodgers win ahead of Ramirez return

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers prepared to welcome back Manny Ramirez by edging the Colorado Rockies, 1-0, in the National League on Tuesday, the last game of the star slugger’s doping suspension.

Rafael Furcal had a pinch hit RBI single in the eighth inning, providing the victory that gave the NL-leading Dodgers a 29-21 record during Ramirez’s absence. The 12-time All-Star, who needs three home runs to tie Mickey Mantle for 15th place on the career list at 536, will return to the lineup Friday for the three-game series at San Diego.

Brad Ausmus led off the eighth with a single and advanced on a sacrifice. Catcher Russell Martin ran for Ausmus and scored when Furcal stroked a single to right field.

In St. Louis, Colby Rasmus made the most of a let-off dropped catch, hitting a leadoff homer in the 10th inning to give St. Louis a narrow 2-1 win over San Francisco.

Earlier in the at-bat, San Francisco rookie third baseman Pablo Sandoval dropped Rasmus’ pop fly, arriving late and stabbing at the catching attempt with his glove. Three pitches later, Rasmus homered to straightaway center for his first game-ending hit.

Rasmus leads NL rookies with eight homers and 29 RBIs.                                                        

The Cardinals closed within a game of NL Central leaders Milwaukee.

In Milwaukee, New York arrested a five-game losing streak with a tight victory over Milwaukee, 1-0.

Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey got through 7-2/3 scoreless innings, laying the foundation for a win brought about by Ryan Church’s sixth inning RBI single.

In Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee and Kosuke Fukudome homered as Chicago overcame Pittsburgh, 4-1.

Pitcher Randy Wells’ seven effective innings limited the Pirates to one run and he recorded his third consecutive victory. In that winning trot, his ERA has been an impressive 2.18.

The Cubs took two of three in this series. They have won eight of the past nine series against the Pirates dating to 2007. (AP)