D-backs rally in ninth to nip Dodgers
LOS ANGELES -- The Arizona Diamondbacks haven't just had the Los Angeles Dodgers' number in recent meetings, they've had the Dodgers name and address, clothes, shoes, socks, pens, wallets -- just about everything.
Winners of 15 of 18 against Los Angeles entering Monday's game, the Diamondbacks headed into the top of the ninth trailing by two at Dodger Stadium, with all the confidence in the world. Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw was out of the game, and all that stood in front was a ho-hum, final at-bat rally.
Nothing to worry about.
Arizona scratched and clawed at Los Angeles reliever Brandon League for four ninth-inning runs, and the Diamondbacks defeated the Dodgers 5-4.
What started with an innocuous Martin Prado single turned into a huge rally as the Diamondbacks sent nine batters to the plate in the ninth. Jason Kubel, Willie Bloomquist and Paul Goldschmidt each had RBI singles in the inning, and Gerardo Parra had a key double.
"You definitely want to try to get them early -- it's tough to play from behind -- but I know our coaching staff has preached from spring training to play all 27 outs," Goldschmidt said. "Whether we're down 10, up 10, tie game, whatever the situation, just have good at-bats until the very end. If you do that, don't give outs away, you give yourself an opportunity.
"There a lot of plays in the middle of the game that give you the opportunity to score two at the end."
Added Mattingly on League, who blew his fourth save: "Not good tonight. It's something we have to look at."
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.
"Our guys fought and battled, and we didn't give in," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "We made some plays to keep it 3-1 as well. We got out of it, and it worked out for us. We made some mistakes there in the last inning, but we held it together to get the final out."
Given Kershaw's performance, the Diamondbacks were happy to just be in the game late.
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, allowing six hits, two walks and one run while striking out five in seven innings.
An eighth-inning blown call at first base potentially cost Los Angeles insurance runs, and it left Mattingly fuming. Jerry Hairston Jr., who had three hits, missed out on a fourth as he was called out on a double play, though replays showed he was safe.
"You'd like to get a couple there," Mattingly said. "To not get anything there kind of hurts. You know the game is still one of those where they get a guy on and somebody pops it out, you've got a tie game. That hurt us."
Los Angeles collected 14 hits, with three players banging three hits on the evening, including Mark Ellis, who 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 followed up 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 -- with a 3-for-4 outing to raise his average to .500.
Still, that was not enough to break the curse, even after taking an early lead.
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.
"They're obviously an extremely talented team; it seems like every game we play against them, regardless of the outcome, is a one- or two-run game," Bloomquist said. "They play us tough and we play they tough. We've come out on top 16 out of 19, and we'll take it."
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 Dodgers pitcher to issue 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 Kershaw won in Week 1. ... Since 2011, the Diamondbacks are 15-6 at Dodger Stadium.
