Diamondbacks-Dodgers preview
LOS ANGELES -- While the Los Angeles Dodgers chase down the San Francisco Giants for the top spot in the National League West, the Arizona Diamondbacks are sinking farther into the cellar.
The Diamondbacks had to stomach another stinker Friday night at Dodger Stadium. Joc Pederson and Chase Utley homered to spark a five-run rally in the seventh inning and the Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 9-7 in a back-and-forth affair Friday night before 50,966.
"I don't think we were playing that way a month ago," said Pederson, who was 2-for-4 with a career-tying four RBI. "We're coming up with a lot more clutch hits and we have a special thing going to get us through games late."
Yasmani Grandal's run-scoring single in the seventh was the difference as the Dodgers (58-45) came back from a four-run deficit to prevail. The win pushed Los Angeles (58-45) within a game of the National League West-leading Giants, who lost to the Washington Nationals.
"Every win's a big one but that was arguably the best of the year," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "We're resilient."
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks (42-61) dropped 17 games back in the division and two behind the fourth-place San Diego Padres.
"It's unfortunate we didn't get the win (Friday) but we just got to come back and keep battling and hopefully we can scratch a couple (of win)," Arizona right-hander Zack Godley, who started the game but didn't factor into the decision.
Arizona will try to bounce back Saturday.
The Diamondbacks will start Braden Shipley (0-1, 10.13 ERA) against Los Angeles lefty Scott Kazmir (9-3, 4.35 ERA). The Milwaukee Brewers tagged Shipley for six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings in his major league debut and a 7-2 romp on July 25.
In his last outing, Kazmir won his seventh straight decision in a in a 9-6 Dodgers' decision over the St. Louis Cardinals on July 24. Kazmir allowed three runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked none.
Kazmir hasn't faced the Diamondbacks since June 22, 2007 when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. In that contest, Kazmir struck out eight, walked two and limited Arizona to a run on three hits in 7 2/3 innings and claimed the win in the Rays' 4-1 victory.
Arizona's Zac Curtis (0-1) allowed two runs and didn't retire a batter in Friday's debacle but he attempted to put a brave face on the rest of the series.
"It's just letting it go and move on," said Curtis, who suffered the loss in Friday's meltdown despite throwing only three pitches. "We're just going to come out (Saturday) and fight. I know it's hard right now because it's a tough loss after coming out and scoring like that but we'll get past it."
Added Diamondbacks catcher Wellington Castillo, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Friday night, "We fight. We hit them, they hit us and they got the win," Castillo said. "We kept competing."
