Ramirez clubs walk off homer in 12th inning

Hanley Ramirez deposited a Blake Parker breaking ball deep into the bullpen beyond the left field fence in the bottom of the 12th inning tonight to give the Dodgers a dramatic 5-2 extra innings walk off win over the Cubs to extend the Los Angeles lead in the NL West to 3.5 games.

The Dodgers scored two runs in the first inning on a Matt Kemp two-run shot to left and put up zeroes for 10 innings before Ramirez sent home a soggy, depleted but happy Dodger Stadium crowd that endured a 4:39 marathon and a light rain that settled in over the last several innings.

The Dodgers started the game with Yasiel Puig and Adrian Gonzalez on the bench with minor injuries but before the night was over both had been used as pinch hitters.

Hyun-Jin Ryu gave up two runs on nine hits over seven innings but left without a decision.

Brandon League, J.P. Howell, Kenley Jansen, Brian Wilson and Jamey Wright came out of the pen in relief with Wright getting the win for pitching the 11^th and 12^th frames.

Ramirez finished with a 3-for-5 night and Dee Gordon and Justin Turner added a pair of hits apiece.

Kemp’s first inning homerun was his fourth round-tripper in five games.

After being stymied by Chicago pitching, the Dodgers 12^th inning two-out rally started with a Gordon single up the middle and a walk to Turner. Ramirez then smoked a breaking ball from Blake Parker and the bubbles started flowing.

Josh Beckett takes the hill tomorrow in the series finale.