LOS ANGELES -- It wasn't a smooth outing for Brad Penny, but the right-hander and the Dodgers defense got the job done as they allowed only one run through five innings to the Reds. The bullpen, however, made matters difficult late Monday night.

The Dodgers had a five-run lead as they headed into the eighth, but Elmer Dessens retired just one of the four batters he faced. He gave up three hits and was charged with three runs. Brett Tomko stepped in and allowed a two-run home run to Brandon Phillips.

In came Jonathan Broxton, the third relief pitcher of the inning. There were runners at the corners when he recorded the final out in the inning.

It wasn't an easy ninth for Broxton. The rookie gave up a walk and a single to put two on with two out, and it looked as if the Dodgers' slim lead was in jeopardy. The three hour, 27 minute game ended when Broxton struck Phillips out on three pitches.

In the end, Los Angeles escaped with a 6-5 win over Cincinnati in front of 44,176 at Chavez Ravine and improved its lead to three games in the National League West.

Penny found himself in troublesome situations throughout his five innings of work, but the teammates behind him helped keep Cincinnati runners from moving ahead. The right-handed starter walked five and gave up four hits as he threw 104 pitches.

"It was a struggle for him out there today," Grady Little said. "He wasn't on top of his game, but he kept battling and got through tough situations."

Though Penny (14-7) had trouble with location early in the game -- causing his pitch count to rise and the game to move slowly -- he kept his cool.

"There were a couple pitches not going his way," Little said about his starter. "He kept his emotions in control, and that was key to getting him through the first few innings."

The other key was the Dodgers defense. Los Angeles turned two crucial double plays in the second and third innings. With one on and one out in the second, Penny caught a ground ball and flipped it over to Rafael Furcal, who made a jumping throw to an outstretched Nomar Garciaparra at first base.

In the third inning, Penny walked the bases loaded. After the game, he said he couldn't remember the last time he did that. Fortunately for the home team, no runs came across. Edwin Encarnacion hit a grounder up the middle for a quick 6-3 double play.

The defense also saved a run in the fourth when Todd Hollandsworth was caught stealing home.

"The team did a great job tonight, especially with me being so wild," said Penny, who nevertheless earned his 14th win of the season.

"There were a couple pitches not going his way. He kept his emotions in control, and that was key to getting him through the first few innings."

-- Dodgers manager Grady Little, on Brad Penny

"Tonight, I was a little erratic. It was just one of those days."

It was one of those days for the bullpen as well. After two scoreless innings by Joe Beimel and Dessens, the bullpen allowed four runs to the Reds in the eighth. Encarnacion and Ken Griffey Jr. had back-to-back hits to start off the inning. One out later, Hollandsworth hit a two-run single to right, and Phillips followed with a home run off Tomko.

The Reds batted around in the frame and had the chance to take the lead for the first time, but left two runners on base. By the end of the night, 11 Cincinnati runners would be stranded. The Reds had many chances to score, and it was only in the seventh that they didn't put a man on base.

It was a similar story for the Dodgers, who had a runner on in every inning but the first. The home team, however, was able to score early in the game.

Russell Martin broke out of an offensive slump -- he had batted .188 over the previous seven games -- with a two-run home run to left-center field in the second inning. Martin's shot gave the Dodgers a 2-0 advantage and a lead the team would not relinquish. Martin finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

It was also a great offensive night for Jason Repko, who hasn't seen too much regular playing time since he came off the disabled list on July 24, but went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. He added two important runs on a single to left field in the seventh that gave the Dodgers their 6-1 lead.

"Definitely, just getting a couple of RBIs there and helping out felt great," Repko said. "Coming off the injury, it was hard. I was just trying to get my feet wet. It felt good to contribute."

It was the bottom half of the lineup that did most of the work on Monday night, against starter Chris Michalak (four runs in four innings) and four Cincinnati relievers. Andre Ethier had three hits with two runs and one RBI, while Jeff Kent had two hits and two runs with one RBI. Both Ethier and Kent drove in runs in the fourth.