Hernandez, Anderson lead Dodgers past Diamondbacks, 4-3

PHOENIX -- Kike Hernandez is one of the seldom-used Los Angeles Dodgers.

The backup outfielder took full advantage of a rare start and was the catalyst on offense for the Dodgers in their 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.

The hustling Hernandez, seeing action for the first time in four games, tripled, doubled, scored twice and drove in a run to back starting pitcher Brett Anderson's third straight victory.

"Just trying to stay within my game, the energy comes by itself," said Hernandez, who played on the night of the first anniversary of his major league debut, for Houston last July 1. "I play once a week, maybe twice sometimes on a good week, so whatever I can do to help my team win, that's all I care about."

Anderson pitched seven strong innings and the NL West-leading Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks for the ninth time in the past 10 meetings. They recorded their first winning road trip of the season with a 6-4 mark in the 10-game swing to Chicago, Miami and Arizona.

Anderson (5-4) stranded six runners and allowed one run and seven hits, striking out seven and walking two. The run came on Aaron Hill's home run in the sixth.

"It wasn't the best, but I'll take it," Anderson said. "I can go to my grave knowing I got Paul Goldschmidt out twice, which has been an issue for me this year."

Hernandez ripped a leadoff triple to start the game and scored on Howie Kendrick's sacrifice fly.

"That guy has energy for days," Anderson said of Hernandez.

"He's definitely silly, that would be the best word," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "I like guys that are having fun. To me he's a good teammate."

The Dodgers' defense got them out of a jam in the bottom of the inning, as Anderson picked off Nick Ahmed trying to steal and catcher A.J. Ellis raced up the first base line to catch a throw from first baseman Scott Van Slyke and tag out A.J. Pollock, who had stopped briefly after rounding first base on a single.

"That wasn't very good," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "You give away two outs right away, against a good team, it's not easy to overcome."

The Dodgers scored three runs in the third to take a 4-0 lead on doubles by Ellis and Hernandez, followed by Kendrick's run-scoring single and an RBI double for Justin Turner.

Kendrick has a seven-game hitting streak and is hitting .500 with eight RBI in that span. He is 24 for 65 (.369) with runners in scoring position this season.

Pollock had three hits and scored on Hill's sacrifice fly in the eighth off reliever Yimi Garcia. The Diamondbacks got closer on David Peralta's solo home run off closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth, but Jansen recovered and earned his 13th save.

Robbie Ray (2-4) took the loss after allowing four runs and seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks in six innings.

A WALK TO REMEMBER

Goldschmidt's hitting streak ended at 11 games after he went 0 for 3 with a walk. But the walk was his 62nd of the season, which gave the Diamondbacks star the most in club history before the All-Star break.

EPIC STOLEN BASE DROUGHT

The Dodgers haven't stolen a base since June 7, and their 23-game streak without a steal is the longest in modern franchise history (since 1900), according to Elias Sports Bureau. When Jimmy Rollins was thrown out trying to steal second in the eighth inning, it marked the sixth time the Dodgers have been caught stealing during the 23-game run.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Brandon Beachy was to make his fourth rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday. He is coming back from right elbow surgery. ... RHP Brandon League pitched a scoreless inning in relief Tuesday night for OKC in a rehab outing as he returns from a right shoulder injury. ... OF Carl Crawford was the DH for Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday and was expected to play in the field this week. He's on the mend from a right oblique strain.

Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin had been slated to work in the minors this week as his long comeback from major elbow surgery nears its end, but Hale said Corbin could start for Arizona on Saturday against Colorado.

UP NEXT

Dodgers: Los Angeles gets Thursday off, then returns home for a three-game series against the New York Mets with Clayton Kershaw (5-6, 3.20) on the mound. Kershaw has lost three consecutive starts for the first time in his career.

Diamondbacks: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (5-5, 5.38) faces the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a four-game series Thursday. Hellickson has won four of his last six decisions and has won all three of his most recent home starts.