MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers 7, Chicago Cubs 2

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Russell Martin snapped a tie by launching a grand slam homer in the sixth inning Thursday, bringing the Los Angeles Dodgers a 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

The Dodgers held onto their 3 ½-game lead over Colorado in the National League West and the Cubs slipped a distant seven games behind St. Louis in the NL Central.

The teams battled to a 2-2 deadlock through five, but things unraveled quickly for the Cubs in the sixth with Angel Guzman (2-3) on the mound for his first inning of work.

Manny Ramirez opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a single to shallow center by Casey Blake. The runners moved up on a sacrifice by Orlando Hudson and James Loney drew an intentional walk to load the bases.

Martin, who recently endured an 0-for-15 slump, hit Guzman's first pitch over the wall in left-center for his fourth homer of the season. Blake added an RBI single in the seventh.

The win went to Ronald Belisario (2-3), who recorded the final two outs in the top of the sixth in relief of Jeff Weaver.