Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 1: Escape From LA

Record: 73-72 On pace: 82-80 Change: +2
WC Elimination #: 8 Division #: 6

Wednesday's game started off with something we haven't seen a whole lot of lately- Diamondbacks offense. Specifically, it began with A.J. Pollock singling off Hyun-Jin Ryu to lead off the top of the game. Willie Bloomquist followed that with a single to give us our first runner in scoring position of the game, and Paul Goldschmidt singled to right to bring in Pollock for the first run of the game. Martin Prado grounded into a double play that scored Bloomquist- not the greatest outcome- but after Aaron Hill grounded out, it was 2-0 Diamondbacks going into the bottom of the first.

The Diamondbacks added on to the lead in the top of the second. Gerardo Parra doubled to start the inning and took third as Scott Van Slyke struggled to field the ball in left field. After Chris Owings grounded out, Tuffy Gosewisch hit his first double in the majors to score Parra. Gosewisch took third on a ground out by Corbin to threaten to add on, but he was stranded, leaving the DBacks lead at 3-0.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers were trying to score, but Corbin just wasn't having any of it. A leadoff single by Yasiel Puig in the first turned into a double play. A walk, a ground rule double, and another walk loaded the bases in the second with two outs, but Ryu grounded out to end it. The put runners at first and second with one out in the third inning, but Corbin got a strike out and a fielder's choice. Two runners in the bottom of the fourth were stranded on a Puig ground out, a one out double by Hanley Ramirez in the fith was wasted.... Patrick Corbin was walking a tight wire, but he kept his footing all night.

Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, Ryu settled in after the second. A 1-2-3 third settled him, and he worked around two singles in the fourth inning. The Diamondbacks had leadoff singles in the fifth and sixth innings, but double play balls erased both of them. Ryu was done after the sixth inning, having given up 3 runs and facing a loss.

Brandon League came in for the Dodgers in the seventh inning, and Tuffy Gosewisch turned the at-bat into his second double of the night (and his career). After Patrick Corbin fouled out trying to put down a bunt, A.J. Pollock drew a walk, and Willie Bloomquist singled to load the bases. That ended Brandon League's night, and Brian Wilson, everyone's favorite ex-Giant (non-Barry Bonds category) came in from the bullpen. He gave up a single to Paul Goldschmidt, scoring Gosewsich. Wilson got Martin Prado to ground into his 823rd double play of the season to end the inning, and Arizona took a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning stretch.

That shutout didn't last much longer, though. Corbin went out to start the seventh, and gave up a one-out solo home run to Puig. That was enough for Corbin, who ended the night at 6.1 innings and only one run allowed. Between this and his previous outing in San Francisco, this does seem to settle a few nerves that Corbin might need to be shut down for the rest of the season. Chaz Roe came in to finish the seventh, getting two quick outs from the only two batters he faced.

The Dodgers C-level bullpen parade continued, with Carlos Marmol coming in to pitch the eighth. He gave up one hit, but the Diamondbacks couldn't take advantage of it. David Hernandez took the eighth for Arizona, striking out Adrian Gonzalez on his way through a 1-2-3 inning. The top of the ninth was eventful, if not good- Onelki Garcia came in to start the inning for the Dodgers and walked the only batter he faced before Peter Moylan replaced him, Adam Eaton was caught stealing, Bloomquist and Goldschmidt singled to give Arizona a runner in scoring position again, but Martin Prado hit into his third double play of the night to end it. Brad Ziegler came in for the bottom of the inning and did what he does best, getting three consecutive batters to ground out and end the game, keeping Arizona from being swept.

(Yeah, that's right. That's my rankings of the Star Trek series. Fight me about it, nerds.)

DbacksSkins led the commenting, with Clefo just a few behind, and we also heard from 4 Corners Fan, AJV19, Dbacks4eva10101, Diamondhacks, FatBoysEatMeat, GuruB, Jim McLennan, Rockkstarr12, The so-called Beautiful, Zavada's Moustache, azshadowwalker, cheese1213, coldblueAZ, ford.williams.10, hotclaws, imstillhungry95, kishi, onedotfive, porty99, preston.salisbury, shoewizard, and soco. Zavada's Mustache wins CotD honors by going green with this agenda:

I'm thinking the average Dodger fan evening goes something like this?

7:15: game starts
7:20: leave home
8:03: arrive at game
8:11: get WAY too excited about a pop up
8:45-9:15: WAAAAAAAVE
9:20: Leave game, gotta beat traffic
9:22: OH GOD SO MUCH TRAFFIC
Midnight: Home

by Zavada's Moustache on Sep 11, 2013 | 8:47 PM

Seems legit, though the lack of beach ball time was pointed out.

So our Diamondbacks manage to scrape together a little dignity on their way out of town, though we pretty much guarantee a Dodgers victory dance during their visit to Arizona next week. Unless we're planning to sweep that. Did we have that planned? Is that what we're going for? Hey, whatever works.

Day off tomorrow, and then the DBacks are back in town to face the Rockies for the weekend.