Houston, TX (Sports Network) - A.J. Ellis' bunt that saw a bad throw by Brandon Lyon lead to a three-run ninth helped the Los Angeles Dodgers take a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros in the third of a four-game set.
Casey Blake hit a solo home run while Reed Johnson had two hits, an RBI and scored twice for the Dodgers, who have won two straight on the heels of a six- game losing streak.
John Ely went six innings in the start and was charged with three runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Kenley Jansen (1-0) picked up his first career win for tossing a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Brett Wallace hit a solo home run while Michael Bourn and Jeff Keppinger each drove in one for the Astros, who have dropped their past two after winning their previous three. Wandy Rodriguez was touched for three runs on five hits with three walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.
With the score tied in the top of the ninth, the Dodgers went ahead. With Lyon (6-6) on the mound, pinch-hitter Trent Oeltjen led off with a walk and Johnson followed with a single. Ellis then reached base as he laid down a bunt that Lyon then threw away, scoring Oeltjen and Johnson.
Tim Byrdak then took the mound and promptly gave up an RBI double to pinch- hitter James Loney for a 6-3 lead.
Hong-Chih Kuo worked around a one-out walk to Geoff Blum in the ninth to pick up his nine save of the season.
With no score in fourth, the Dodgers took the lead. Blake led off the frame with his 15th home run of the year. Jay Gibbons later singled, moved to second on a John Lindsey groundout and crossed the plate on a Johnson single. Johnson then stole second and came home thanks to an Ellis single for a 3-0 lead.
Houston got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Bourn led off with a triple and scored on a Keppinger single to make it a 3-1 game.
The Astros tied the game in the fifth as Wallace led off with a home run and Angel Sanchez later scored on a groundout from Bourn.
Dodgers manager Joe Torre was ejected in the first inning by home plate umpire Paul Emmel for arguing a called third strike on Blake...Los Angeles has taken four of five from Houston this season.