By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES(AP) -- While NL West rivals Colorado and San Francisco
face off in a high-tension series up the California coast, the
Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to knock a few digits off their
magic number while enjoying a slight letup in the September
grind.

Andre Ethier hit a tiebreaking homer, Manny Ramirez had an early
RBI double and the Dodgers opened their penultimate
regular-season homestand with a 6-2 victory over the woeful
Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

Jon Garland (10-11) persevered through six rocky innings to
remain unbeaten since joining Los Angeles last month, winning
the NL leaders' first of seven games in 15 days against the
Pirates. In fact, 10 of Los Angeles' final 18 games are against
last-place clubs Pittsburgh and Washington, putting the Dodgers
in prime position for their race with St. Louis and Philadelphia
for the NL's best record.

The Dodgers extended their division lead to four games and
reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to 11.
The Giants, who beat the second-place Rockies 9-1 to open their
important series in the wild-card race, visit Los Angeles this
weekend - and the Dodgers hope their biggest rivals are properly
tenderized.

"We knew coming in that this was a great opportunity for us to
get some distance from Colorado and San Francisco, and let them
beat up on each other a little bit," Ethier said. "You can't
take an opportunity lightly just because of the name across
their jerseys."

The Pirates ended a 13-game road losing streak with a win at
Houston on Sunday, but it's late in their 17th consecutive
losing season. Ramon Vazquez had an RBI double for the Pirates,
who have lost 15 of 17.

"You have to treat every game like it's important," Pittsburgh
outfielder Andrew McCutchen said. "You can't just go through the
motions, because that's not going to do anything for you. So
just for yourself, you need to go out there and treat this game
like there's a purpose behind it, and there is a purpose behind
every single game."

Orlando Hudson had three hits and drove in two late runs as the
Dodgers (86-59) got hits from all eight starting position
players to move back to a season-high 27 games over .500 with
their fifth victory in seven games.

Ethier put the Dodgers ahead 4-2 in the fifth with his 29th
homer off rookie Daniel McCutchen, and Hudson added a long RBI
double in the sixth. Hudson twice drove home Casey Blake, who
reached base four times.

After two solid outings, Garland scuffled through his third
start since joining the Dodgers for the playoff chase in a trade
with Arizona on Aug. 31. The right-hander yielded six hits and
two runs while walking three, never retiring the side in order
until the sixth.

"It was definitely a grind out there," Garland said. "As long as
we keep playing good baseball, things are going to work out. The
speed, the power, the ability to get on the basepaths - it's
great to play with these guys."

The Dodgers secured Garland's second win with the club by
tagging McCutchen (0-2) for seven hits and four runs in the
right-hander's third career start. Less than three weeks after
making the big leagues, McCutchen soaked up the chance to pitch
at Dodger Stadium - even if the result wasn't great.

"I definitely went out there with not my best stuff," McCutchen
said. "That's a great ballclub, and pitching in front of this
crowd and this atmosphere, I really would have liked to come out
with my good stuff. I've never pitched in an atmosphere like
this."

Los Angeles scored in the first inning on Ramirez's double
toward the Mannywood sign near the left-field foul pole, but
Lastings Milledge and shortstop Ronny Cedeno teamed up to nail
Matt Kemp at the plate as he attempted to score a second run.

Pittsburgh tied it when Cedeno slid headfirst to beat out a
two-out infield single and later scored on No. 8 hitter
Vazquez's double off the wall. The Dodgers went back ahead later
in the fourth inning when James Loney scored on Hudson's
double-play grounder.

NOTES: The Dodgers haven't lost a season series with the Pirates
since 2000, winning eight straight. The clubs meet for four
games in Pittsburgh starting next weekend. ... Pittsburgh's last
visit to Dodger Stadium was in April 2008. ... Manager Joe Torre
hopes LHP Clayton Kershaw will throw a simulated game during the
Dodgers' homestand, which would put the 21-year-old about a week
away from returning from a separated shoulder.