Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 4
LOS ANGELES -- Arizona scratched and clawed at Los Angeles reliever Brandon League for four ninth-inning runs, and the Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 5-4 Monday at Dodger Stadium.
The Diamondbacks' rally erased an impressive start by Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
The way Arizona has been playing against Los Angeles recently, it only felt like a matter of time until the Diamondbacks would catch up. Fifteen losses in 18 games to the division-rival Diamondbacks had Los Angeles fans sitting nervously despite a 3-1 lead heading into the ninth inning. League, who wound up blowing a save for the fourth time this year, didn't offer much comfort.
What started with an innocuous Martin Prado single turned into a huge rally as the Diamondbacks sent nine batters up in the ninth. Jason Kubel, Willie Bloomquist and Paul Goldschmidt each had RBI singles in the inning, and Gerardo Parra had a key double.
Arizona closer Heath Bell allowed a home run to Juan Uribe in the bottom of the ninth, and Los Angeles had baserunners at first and third with no outs, but Bell got three straight outs to pick up his 12th save.
Tony Sipp (3-1) got the last out in the eighth to earn the win.
Kershaw entered the game on a two-game losing streak; worse yet, he'd lost four straight to Arizona dating back to July 2012. He righted the ship, though, scattering six hits, allowed one run and struck out five in seven innings.
An eighth-inning blown call at first base had manager Don Mattingly fuming and potentially cost Los Angeles insurance runs. Jerry Hairston Jr., who had three hits, missed out on a fourth as he was called out for a double play, though replays showed he was safe.
Los Angeles collected 14 hits, with three players banging three hits on the evening. Mark Ellis went 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs. He increased his lifetime batting average to .500 (10-for-20) against Arizona starter Wade Miley, who allowed nine hits and three runs in six innings.
Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig, who won National League player of the week honors in his first week in the majors after finishing with four home runs, 13 hits, 10 RBIs and a .464 batting average, went 3-for-4 Monday to raise his average to .500.
Ellis continued his haunting of Miley in the fifth inning as he hit his fourth career home run off the lefty, putting the Dodgers up 3-1.
Los Angeles had reclaimed the lead in the fourth inning after Arizona tied the game at 1 in the top of the second. Uribe doubled home Hairston to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead.
Hairston put the Dodgers ahead 1-0 in the first inning on a single that scored Ellis.
Miguel Montero had a second-inning single to score Cody Ross, who had three hits in his first three at-bats for Arizona.
NOTES: Dodgers RHP Matt Magill was sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque after his wild start against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday in an 8-1 loss. Magill, whose departure made room for INF Justin Sellers, became the first Dodger with six walks in consecutive games since 2003. ... Sellers batted just .191 for the Dodgers after making the Opening Day roster, but he hit .337 with 17 RBIs in 24 games for the Isotopes. ... Arizona recalled RHP Charles Brewer and LHP Joe Paterson from Triple-A Reno. To make room, the Diamondbacks optioned LHP Tyler Skaggs and placed LHP Matt Reynolds on the disabled list with a left elbow strain. ... Puig became the second rookie in as many years to collect league player of the week honors in his first career week, joining Baltimore's Manny Machado, who won AL honors last year for the week of Aug. 6-12. Puig became the second Dodger to win the NL award this year after Clayton Kershaw won in Week 1. ... Since 2011, the Diamondbacks are 15-6 at Dodger Stadium, their best mark against NL West foes. ... Miley entered the game at 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA at Dodger Stadium in four career starts.
