Dodgers Defang D-backs Again

Dodgers 8 12 0

D-backs 5 12 2

WP- Greinke (3-0)

LP- Miley (2-2)

S- Jansen (3)

HR- Gonzalez (4), Pollack (1)

The Dodgers led all the way. The disillusioned D-backs looked tired and downtrodden during their tenth loss of the season and fourth loss to the Dodgers this season on Saturday evening in Phoenix. Zack Greinke pitched a great game, and he only allowed one run on a Pollack homerun in the fifth inning. Greinke picked up his third win of the season. Wade Miley had a bad night, a reoccurring theme for Arizona’s starters this season, and the long-haired left-hander allowed the Dodgers to plate five runs on his watch.

Adrian Gonzalez has now collected 7 RBIs in the last two games versus the Snakes. He had a big two-run homerun, his fourth of the season, in the fourth inning. Uribe also continues to hit the ball well, and the lovable third baseman had 3 hits and 2 RBIs on the night. The Dodgers and D-backs both left 11 men on base, but Arizona’s pitching is really struggling. Kirk Gibson looked exasperated while handling his turbulent staff.

Speaking of struggling, Brandon League imploded again in the bottom of the ninth inning. The bewildered reliever had a couple of good innings prior to tonight’s outing, but he was back to his old way while allowing 3 runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Luckily the Dodgers had a generous lead, but I was still getting worried before the Dodgers finally had to cave and get Jansen in there.

Adrian Gonzalez now has 7 RBIs in the series against Arizona after a big homerun and game on Saturday. Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Even Chone Figgins got his first base hit since 2012 in the Dodger win, and backup catcher Drew Butera had a couple of lucky hits. Kemp and Hanley went hitless in a game which saw each team with a dozen hits.

Here’s how it all played out…

Yasiel Puig is leading off today against Wade Miley. Miley walks Puig on five pitches. The lead-off walk is erased as Matt Kemp grounds into a double play. Hanley Ramirez hits a high chopper to third to end the inning.

Tony Campana leads off the bottom of the first with a single off Zack Greinke. With Aaron Hill batting, a wild pitch gets by Butera and allowed Campana to move over to second. Campana tags up on a fly ball by Hill, and he makes it to third just ahead of a strong throw by Puig. Greinke rears back to strike out Paul Goldschmidt. Martin Prado strikes out on a check swing, and Greinke escapes the jam!

The Dodgers are in business against Miley in the second. Miley once again walks the lead-off batter, Adrian Gonzalez. Then Van Slyke, who gave Miley a hard time in Sydney, smacks a double off the left field wall! Gonzo makes it to third. Juan Uribe loops a single over the head of Goldy and into right field. Gonzo trots home, and Van Slyke also scores. The Dodgers take a 2-0 lead. Miley settles down enough to retire Justin Turner and Drew Butera who both strike out. Greinke grounds into a force out to end the frame.

Greinke pitches a nice 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.

The Dodgers get their lead-off man on base for the third straight inning as Puig singles to center. Kemp flies out to right. With Hanley in the batter’s box, Puig takes second on a wild pitch that bounces off Montero’s glove. Puig slides into second under the throw by Montero. HanRam flies out to center. Then Gonzo comes up and hits a line drive the other way over the left field fence! The Dodgers take a 4-0 lead. That extends Gonzo’s hitting streak to eight games. Miley in unraveling, and he walks Van Slyke after the Gonzo homer. This triggers the Arizona pitching coach to have a talk with Miley on the mound. Uribe hits a line drive to third, but Prado snares it to end the inning.

Cliff Pennington strikes out to open the bottom of the third. Wade Miley hits a clean single right up the middle over the second base bag. That’s just the second hit Greinke has allowed. Campana strikes out on a foul tip. Aaron Hill hits a long double off the center field wall. Miley stops at third. After going 3-0 on Goldy, Greinke battles back and gets the first baseman to pop out!

In the fourth, the Dodgers continue to get their lead-off guy on base. Justin Turner doubles to left field. Butera strikes out for the second time, and Greinke grounds out. Puig then singles in Turner for his second hit off Miley. Dodgers now lead with a high five. Kemp hits a deep fly ball to center, but Campana runs it down.

Prado strikes out looking in the bottom of the fourth. Montero gets a lucky single when the ball hits the first base bag and bounces into right field. Trumbo hits into a force. Parra annoyingly singles to left field, but Pennington flies out to end the slight threat.

In the fifth, Hanley  strikes out and loses his bat which is hurled halfway up the stands. Gonzalez is on fire, and he singles to right with one out. So far Gonzo has a walk, a single, and a homerun. SVS flies out this time. Uribe goes the other way and doubles to right. Gonzo makes it to third. Turner grounds out, and the Dodgers leave runners at second and third.

Pinch-hitter A.J. Pollack injects a bit of life into the Arizona dugout after he crushes a big homerun to center field. The D-backs finally score a run after 13 scoreless innings against the Dodgers this series. Paul Goldschmidt finally comes up with a hit with two outs, a double which

Zack Greinke won his third game with his unique style. Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

just gets past Uribe along the left field line. Prado singles, but Puig’s threat to throw puts the brakes on Goldy at third. Greinke pulls a big slow breaking ball to strike out Montero, and he gets out of the inning bruised but not beaten.

Oliver Perez will come out of the Arizona bullpen in relief of Miley. Wade Miley went 5 innings and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks on 102 pitches. Once again, the Dodgers get their lead-off guy on. Butera draws the lead-off walk. Greinke sacrifices Butera over to second. Martin Prado can’t handle a chopper by Matt Kemp, and he draws an error. Butera scores on the play, and the Dodgers add another run to their lead, 6-1.

Greinke begins the bottom of the sixth, but he is removed after he strikes out Mark Trumbo. Don Mattingly will call in Paco Rodriguez to pitch to Parra. Zack Greinke allowed 1 run on 8 hits with 8 strikeouts and no walks over 5 1/3 innings and 103 pitches. Parra grounds out, but Uribe can’t handle a good bunt by Pennington who reaches on the infield hit. With Pollack at-bat, Butera lets a ball go between his legs. The passed ball will allow Pennington to advance to second. Pollack flies out to center. The D-backs are 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position so far tonight.

Oliver Perez will pitch to Gonzo to begin the seventh inning. Gonzo grounds out to first. Kirk Gibson will go to his bullpen again, and this time he brings in Brad Ziegler. The submariner gets Van Slyke to ground out. Uribe flies out to center. The Dodgers go down in order.

Once Chris Owings is announced as the lead-off hitter in the bottom of the seventh, Mattingly calls in his own Chris. Chris Withrow walks Owings. Aaron Hill is called out on a check swing on a ball down in the dirt. Owings is going while Goldy strikes out at the plate. Butera’s throw is late, but at least Withrow got Goldy out. Withrow gets Prado looking on a borderline pitch, and Withrow actually ends up striking out the side-although he made it difficult for himself on 24 pitches.

J.J. Putz will pitch in the top of the eighth for Arizona. Turner is caught looking and strikes out for the second time. Butera squeaks out a base hit on a high infield chopper. Chone Figgins will come off the bench to hit for Withrow. Figgins lines a single to right. Puig fouls out. The runners advance to second and third on a wild pitch by Putz while Matt Kemp was at-bat. Matt Kemp draws a walk, and that brings up Hanley with two outs and the bases loaded. Putz walks Hanley which brings in a run, and the Dodgers lead 7-1. Gibson has to take another painful walk to the mound. Joe Thatcher will face Adrian Gonzalez with the bases loaded. The inning finally comes to an end when Gonzo strikes out.

Paul Maholm is called on to pitch the bottom of the eighth. Trumbo is hit by a pitch with one out. With Parra batting, a wild pitch allows Trumbo to scoot over to second. Para grounds out while Trumbo takes third. Pennington comes up with his second hit, a single, and the hit batter is cashed in. 7-2 Dodgers.

Arizona will bring in their sixth pitcher of the game in the ninth. Addison Reed strikes out SVS. Uribe doubles off the left field wall, and Mattingly will go out and talk to the umpires about whether the ball hit the yellow pipeline on top of the wall. The replay shows that it hit under the yellow line and back on to the field. That’s Uribe’s 7th double of the season. Turner hits a chopper to third, and Prado’s throw to first can’t be picked by Goldy at first. That’ll be an error on Prado. Butera comes up with his second hit, and now Andre Ethier will come up to hit with the bases full of Blue. Ethier hits a line drive on the first pitch, and Goldschmidt saves the ball from going into right field. Goldy gets the force at second, but a run scores. 8-2 Dodgers. Puig pops up to end the inning.

Brandon League will pitch the bottom of the ninth for the Dodgers, and the inning turns into a bit of a scare.  Eric Chavez singles, and League hits Aaron Hill with a pitch. Goldschmidt flies out to Puig for the first out. Hill takes second base on defensive indifference. League walks Prado to load the bases up. Montero flies out to center, and the runners tag up. Montero gets an RBI as Chavez scores. Trumbo proceeds to double to the gap, and two runs score. It’s now 8-5. League is so bad, the Dodgers are forced to bring in Kenley Jansen to get the last out. Jansen strikes out Parra to end the inning and the game.

The Dodgers improve to 8-4 while the Snakes fall to 6 games below .500. The Dodgers have won all 4 games against the D-backs this season so far and both series. They will go for another sweep tomorrow.

Sunday afternoon Dan Haren takes the mound against Trevor Cahill for the 1:10 p.m. PT series finale.