Dodgers' Loney tags Dempster, Cubs

The visiting Los Angeles Dodgers wore down Canadian starter Ryan Dempster before defeating the Chicago Cubs 7-2 Wednesday night in the opening game of their National League Division series.

First baseman James Loney led the offensive attack for the Dodgers with a grand slam home run in the fifth, and slugger Manny Ramirez notched his 25th career post-season homer, extending his own major-league record.

"We get a sense of what he's been doing all these years," said Loney.

The Dodgers used four home runs to take home-field advantage away from Chicago in the best-of-five series.

The loss was not a good beginning for the Cubs, who are looking to end a 100-year championship drought.

The teams return to Wrigley Field for Game 2 on Thursday night (9:30 p.m. ET). The Cubs will try to get even by sending right-hander Carlos Zambrano against Chad Billingsley.

Fellow Canadian hurler Rich Harden, a native of Victoria, is scheduled to start for Chicago in Game 3 in L.A. on Saturday.

"Let's hope we get better," said Cubs manager Lou Piniella. "Let's put this one behind us and go get them tomorrow."

After a sluggish beginning, L.A. pitcher Derek Lowe settled down to quiet the Cubs' bats. Lowe went six solid innings, allowing two runs and seven hits while striking out six batters.

Dempster struggled with his control early and lasted only 4 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs and seven walks. He threw 109 pitches for the game.

The Gibsons, B.C., native looked nothing like the pitcher who was nearly unbeatable at Wrigley this season. Dempster led all Cubs pitchers, posting a 14-3 record and a 2.63 earned-run average in 20 starts at home.

The 14 victories fell one shy of fellow Canadian Ferguson Jenkins' Cubs record, set in 1967.

The Cubs struck first with two runs in the second inning on an opposite-field two-run homer by Mark DeRosa. The second baseman continued his breakthrough season, drilling a Lowe pitch and watching it carry just inside the right foul pole.

Dempster got out of the trouble in the top of the third; after loading the bases with two outs, he struck out right-fielder Andre Ethier with an off-speed pitch.

However, Dempster's lack of command cost him in the fifth. After walking three batters, Loney smashed a grand-slam over the centre-field wall. The Canadian then allowed a double to Matt Kemp before being yanked by Piniella.

"Invariably, when you keep putting people on, they're going to score, and they scored there quickly with that grand slam," Piniella said.

Ramirez gave the Dodgers a 5-2 lead in the seventh, sending a Sean Marshall offering over the left-field bleachers.

Third baseman Casey Blake put Los Angeles in front by four runs as his single to centre off Cubs' reliever Jeff Samardzija brought home Blake DeWitt in the eighth.

Canadian catcher Russell Martin ended the domination one inning later, hitting the Dodgers' fourth home run of the game.