Andre Ethier helps Dodgers increase lead

In the final two innings of the Dodgers' 6-2 come-from-behind victory over the San Diego Padres Tuesday night at Petco Park, Ethier tripled in the tying run, scored the go-ahead run, and put the game out of reach with a bases-clearing double, moving his team 2 1/2 games clear of the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

The Dodgers trailed, 2-1, in the eighth inning and were in danger of starting this 10-game trip with two losses when Ethier tripled into the left-field corner to score Russell Martin from second. One at-bat later, Ethier scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to deep center field by -- who else? -- Manny Ramirez.

Ethier broke the game open in the ninth with a three-run double down the opposite line of the spacious ballpark.

Ramirez hit his 522nd career homer in the sixth inning to pass Willie McCovey, Frank Thomas and Ted Williams into 17th place on the all-time list.

Sitting in front of his locker before the game, Ethier talked again about the influence Ramirez has had on him. He spoke at length about how Ramirez showed him that he didn't have to cling to every failure, that he could work hard and still have fun, that on days he didn't hit he could make an impact by playing solid defense or running the bases properly.

"You hate to keep coming back to it, but it's Manny," Ethier said, explaining his recent overall play.

Ethier was caught by a television camera during the game in the dugout wearing the Ramirez-style dreadlocks sold at Dodger Stadium. Ethier laughed, as did Ramirez, who playfully headlocked James Loney, who was sitting between them.

Much the way sitting by Ramirez has made Ethier a more relaxed player, batting in front of him has made him a better hitter. Ethier, who was two for four with a walk Tuesday, is hitting .500 (23 for 46) with 14 runs batted in in his 12 games in the No. 2 spot in front of Ramirez.

At least on this day, the late-game heroics of Ethier and Ramirez eased concerns about the Dodgers' inability to win outside of Dodger Stadium, as they had lost 11 of their previous 13 road games.

A day removed from being held scoreless over seven innings by Cha Seung Baek in their series-opening loss, the Dodgers failed to hit another no-name pitcher they'd recently pounded, rookie Wade LeBlanc.