Dodgers strike early to blow away Mets

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Orlando Hudson hit a three-run double in the first innings to set the tone early for the Major League-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in their 11-2 thrashing of the New York Mets on Thursday.

The Dodgers (54-31) scored four times in the first inning, while Rafael Furcal recorded three hits and three runs and Matt Kemp tallied three of the team's 17 hits.

New York pitcher Livan Hernandez lasted just four innings and gave up eight runs. Dodgers left-hander Randy Wolf (4-3) earned the victory, striking out three batters in 6 1/3 innings.

It was the first victory in eight starts for Wolf, who has 12 no decisions this season and switched his uniform number from 21 to 43 in an effort to change his luck. He wore 43 during a successful tenure with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I felt I've been throwing the ball pretty well, but obviously I don't have much to show for it," Wolf told reporters.

"There's not a baseball player who isn't superstitious. I'm happy I changed numbers. We put up 11 runs. I'll take it."

The Mets managed two runs against Wolf including an RBI single in the first inning for Gary Sheffield, who finished 2-for-4.

New York (40-44), however, lost for the 10th time in 13 games and have struggled offensively without the injured Carlos Beltran (knee), Carlos Delgado (hip) and Jose Reyes (hamstring).

Delgado and Reyes have been missing since May, while Beltran has been sidelined since June 22, sending New York into a hitting slump.

Mets' All-Star third baseman David Wright had two hits for the second successive day. Prior to Wednesday's game Wright had hit just 1-for-23 in July.

Los Angeles' Manny Ramirez finished 2-for-2 with two RBI singles before being replaced in the bottom of the seventh.

Ramirez is 6-for-18 with two homers since returning on July 3 from a 50-game suspension for testing positive to a banned drug.

"I feel great. But I'm not 23 anymore," Ramirez said.

"I've got to go baby steps."

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)