But the Dodgers outclassed the Giants in every way, schooling Johnson in a six-run fourth inning and coasting to an 11-1 decision that felt more like a scolding than a victory.

In front of an announced crowd of 57,009, the largest to see a Baseball game at Chavez Ravine, Orlando Hudson hit for the cycle and Andre Ethier launched two home runs to support a stellar, 11-strikeout effort from Chad Billingsley.

Afterward, Giants manager Bruce Bochy took the uncommon step of addressing the team, lest any of his young'uns start to question whether this whole notion of contending is looking far-fetched.

"We've got to relax and play our game," Bochy said. "We do have a couple guys who are pressing. You have to realize you're in this thing for the long haul. I talked about it real quick. We'll come out of this. We've got to get back to playing the game with passion and having fun here."

The Giants have a free day in Los Angeles to flush a four-game losing streak that began down the freeway with a listless sweep at San Diego. And they need the break before this three-game series resumes Wednesday.

"The timing of Boch saying what he said was good," center fielder Aaron Rowand said. "I don't think anybody's lost faith in what this group can do. But it's nice to have a day off to step back."

Hudson has to be itching for another game today. He singled, homered and doubled off Johnson, then tripled off Brandon Medders in the sixth inning. The crowd roared when the scoreboard flashed that Hudson had completed the first cycle by a Dodger since Wes Parker in 1970.

The only other cycle at Dodger Stadium happened when the Dodgers were out of town. Jim Fregosi accomplished the feat for the Los Angeles Angels in a home game against the Yankees in 1964.

Ethier and Hudson hit solo homers off Johnson and Ethier added a three-run shot in the eighth off Alex Hinshaw, but the two biggest at-bats of the game might have belonged to Russell Martin and Rafael Furcal in the fourth.

Martin struck out, but his 10-pitch at-bat taxed Johnson. Ethier followed with his tiebreaking homer, and with two out, Furcal served a two-run single to the opposite field that put the Dodgers ahead 4-1.

"I got hurt today," said Johnson, who gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings and has a 11.42 ERA after two starts. "It was a nice home opener for them. I was hoping to keep them at bay and get us off to a good start, (but) I just continued what's been happening on this road trip."

Dodgers manager Joe Torre noticed that the 45-year-old left-hander was throwing fewer fastballs than he remembered during their time with the Yankees.

"I was happy we were able to adjust and use the whole field," Torre said.

It's only two starts, but hitters have adjusted to Johnson with disturbing ease. The first time through the lineup, they are 3-for-18 (.167) with one home run and eight strikeouts. The second time through, they are 7-for-16 (.438) with three home runs, two doubles, two walks and four strikeouts.

And what about losing on the bump at Dodger Stadium for the first time?

"My last two starts," said Johnson, "a lot of things have happened that never happened before."

Contact Andrew Baggarly at abaggarly@mercurynews.com.Dodgers 11,Giants 1NEXT GAME: Wednesday, at Dodgers , 7:10 p.m.Inside Giants showed no interest in signingOrlando Hudson as a free agent. Page 5