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LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig is making his mark against left-handed pitching while helping the Dodgers in a major way.The Cuban outfielders three-run homer highlighted a five-run first inning in a 9-3 rout of the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night, extending the Dodgers NL West lead to six games with 10 remaining.Its nice to have that separation, third baseman Justin Turner said, but nothing is certain until that number is zero. The important thing is to stay hot and build some momentum as youre rolling into the playoffs.Puig is doing just that against lefties. He has four home runs and two walks against them since returning from the minor leagues earlier this month. Hes started all six games in September against lefties, who have given the Dodgers fits this season.Hes done some things mechanically, manager Dave Roberts said. When he elevates the ball with his strength good thing are going to happen. Hes getting to a lot of pitches he wasnt prior.The Dodgers beat left-hander Madison Bumgarner 2-1 in Mondays series opener and got to fellow lefty Matt Moore (11-12) early.It was good for us to break out, Roberts said.Puig is batting .333 (6 for 16) with eight RBI in seven games at home since being recalled on Sept. 2.Thats the guy we all know he can be, Turner said. Hes an exciting player on both sides of the ball. We knew he could be a game-changer for us.The Dodgers pounded out 12 hits in taking two of three from the rival Giants, who remained tied in the NL wild-card race after both the Mets and Cardinals lost earlier. The Dodgers conclude the regular season with three games at San Francisco next week.Kenta Maeda (16-9) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in five innings while improving to 4-0 against the Giants this season. The right-hander struck out six and walked one in making his 30th start of the season for just the second time in his career. Maeda is one win from tying Rick Sutcliffes record by a rookie set in 1979.Moore gave up six runs and seven hits in one inning, walked one and struck out none in a messy outing for the left-hander who had pitched exceptionally well at Dodger Stadium.It was a bad day to have a bad day, he said. There was a lot of small stuff going on.Moore was one out away from throwing his first career no-hitter on Aug. 25 in Los Angeles when Corey Seager broke it up with a single. He previously held the Dodgers to just one unearned run in 15 1/3 innings.He was making a lot of mistakes and we made them pay, outfielder Kike Hernandez said. Last time he was making every pitch.After two close games, including a 2-0 loss Tuesday, the Dodgers put the game away early.They took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of that inning on Puigs 11th homer and RBI singles by Adrian Gonzalez and Maeda.They made it 6-2 in the second on Turners sacrifice fly. Howie Kendrick doubled in two more runs with two outs in the third. The Dodgers added another run on pinch-hitter Andrew Toles RBI double in the sixth.The Giants runs came on Angel Pagans RBI single in the first, Ehire Adrianzas homer in the second and Brandon Belts RBI single in the sixth.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: RHP Johnny Cueto had an MRI on Wednesday that confirmed a Grade 1 groin strain, which forced him out of his start in the sixth inning Tuesday. Hes questionable for his next start, although manager Bruce Bochy hasnt ruled him for the Giants next series. ... SS Brandon Crawford came out of Tuesdays victory with a dislocated left pinky on his glove hand in the second. Hell need a couple days to recover, Bochy said.Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir comes off the disabled list to start Friday against Colorado after missing nearly a month with neck inflammation. Hes expected to throw about 90 pitches, but will be monitored. He threw a 35-pitch bullpen session on Tuesday.REELIN IT INDodgers outfielders Kike Hernandez and Puig made dramatic catches in the fourth. A charging Hernandez caught Belts fly ball to center, landing on his front side fully stretched for the second out of the inning. Puig tracked Joe Paniks ball over his shoulder, made the catch and, with his momentum carrying him, climbed a step up on the right field scoreboard before jumping down to end the inning. His catch was way better than mine, Hernandez said. I never thought he was going to make the play and sure enough he did.TROUBLE BEHIND THE PLATEDodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz had a troublesome first that led to the Giants first run. Denard Span walked and took second on a passed ball by Ruiz before Pagan singled to right. Puigs throw to the plate bounced once and Ruiz missed the tag in a close play.VISITING VINBochy visited retiring Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully before the game, joining a long list of opposing managers and players whove done so this season. They chatted in Scullys fifth-floor booth, where Bochy said he could see where he does his magic.I was telling him all the memories that go through my head, the manager said. Ive been coming to the ballpark for 21 years; hes been here 67 years. Hes an incredible man who has done so much for the game.UP NEXTGiants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (11-10, 3.97 ERA) starts the series opener against the Padres. Hes 3-1 with a 4.31 ERA in five starts against them this season. Hes struggled in his last two outings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 11.0 innings.Dodgers: LHP Brett Anderson (0-2, 24.75) starts the series opener against the Rockies for the first time since Aug. 20 after being on the disabled list with a blister on his left index finger.Dennis Rodman Jersey . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Derek Fisher Jersey . Nathan MacKinnon, Jamie McGinn and Jan Hejda also scored for the Avalanche, who won despite being outshot 38-23. MacKinnons goal, also on the power play, came with just over a minute remaining. http://www.lakersteamofficial.com/Kareem-Abdul-Jabbar-Lakers-Jersey/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Vlade Divac Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. Anthony Davis Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach.SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners slim chances of reaching the postseason took a hit Thursday night, despite their win over Oakland, but they head into a Friday game against the As with a remaining shred of hope.Baltimores win over Toronto gave Seattle (85-74) even less room for error as the Mariners prepare to play their third-to-the-last game of the season trailing the Orioles and Blue Jays by two games in the American League wild-card race.We know we have to win, Seattle catcher Mike Zunino said Thursday night. Thats the thing. Theres only three left, and if we dont win our games now, nothing else matters.Seattle did its part Friday night, beating the As 3-2 despite a shaky ninth inning that saw Mariners closer Edwin Diaz give up three hits and a run before striking out the final two batters to wriggle out of it.Its tough, Diaz said of his ninth inning. I need to control my emotions and give the team a chance to make the playoffs. Were so close.The As (67-92) nearly staged a ninth-inning comeback even though theyre not playing for anything other than pride.It came down to situational at-bats, manager Bob Melvin said after the latest loss.Oakland will try to regroup behind Friday starter Raul Alcantara, while the Mariners will turn to 24-year-old Taijuan Walker in what could be their final meaningful game of the season.Seattle needs Toronto and/or Baltimore to lose Friday to still have a chance to win an outright wild-card berth, and the Mariners could be eliminated from playoff contention if they lose and both the Blue Jays and Orioles wiin.dddddddddddd Further complicating things is a Detroit team that had a rainout Thursday and sits between Seattle and the co-leaders in the wild-card standings.The way we look at it, well play tomorrows game, and well try to win it and pray for a little help, Seattle manager Scott Servais said late Thursday night.The Mariners have their rotation lined up so that veterans Hisashi Iwakuma (Saturday) and Felix Hernandez (Sunday) will close out the season and could be on the mound for the biggest games of the season. But those two wont be a factor if Walker cant deliver on Friday night.The 24-year-old right-hander, having opened the season as the No. 2 starter in the rotation before struggling all the way to a stint in Triple-A, has pitched well over his past four starts after changing his mechanics. Hes 3-1 since getting shelled in a Sept. 3 loss to the Angels and will be on the mound for the biggest start of his young career Friday.The Mariners are also looking for more offense, particularly from the middle of their lineup. Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager went a combined 2-for-11 Thursday after carrying the team for most of the season. That group also has a chance to become Seattles first trio since Ken Griffey Jr., Alex Rodriguez and Edgar Martinez in 1998 to record 30 home runs and 100 RBI in the same season. Cano is three RBI shy of 100, while Seager needs to drive in one more run to hit that mark. ' ' '