Dodgers' Big Inning Leads To 9-5 Win Over Dbacks
PHOENIX (AP) — Baseball's replay review system worked well for the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday night in their 9-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers plated six runs in the fourth inning thanks in large part to two overturned out calls and cruised to their 11th win in 15 games against Arizona this season.
With the game tied at 2, the Dodgers hit five consecutive singles off Arizona starter Trevor Cahill (3-9) in the fourth. The Dodgers led 4-2 when A.J. Ellis singled to center field. The throw beat Carl Crawford to home plate, but an umpire- initiated review on whether catcher Miguel Montero was blocking the plate led to the crew to see that the ball was in his other hand. The initial out call was overturned.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly came out of the dugout with a purpose. He later said he intended to challenge the out call if the umpires didn't review the play first.
"If I can get them to look at the play at the plate, then they look at everything," Mattingly said. "You can't really see if he's blocking (the plate) or not, and I know that the umpires talk about it, but they're looking at lots of stuff... it's hard for them to look at everything, so that's why that rule's in place."
Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said he'd have done exactly what Mattingly did.
"The whole blocking the plate thing, if you look at it, they (umpires) are doing the best they can, but I think you see inconsistencies the way it is interpreted," Gibson said.
The next batter, pitcher Roberto Hernandez, was called out at first base on a bunt past the pitcher's mound. But Mattingly challenged that call and Hernandez was ruled safe, allowing Justin Turner to score on the play and make the score 6-2. A Dee Gordon single and sacrifice fly from Adrian Gonzalez brought in the last two runs of the inning.
Hernandez (8-9) made it through six innings and allowed three runs on six hits to improve to 2-1 with the Dodgers. Cahill was through after 3 1/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits.
"The ball wasn't staying down as much as I would have liked early in the game but I was able to keep us in the game," Hernandez said. "Six runs in that inning, that's all you can ask for."
Ender Inciarte finished with two hits and three runs batted in for the Diamondbacks. The Dodgers improved to 41-26 on the road -- the best road record in the majors.
Matt Kemp's homer in the first gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead, then Inciarte tied the score with a two-out single in the second.
A VOTE FOR KERSHAW
Gibson would have no problem voting for Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw for NL Most Valuable Player, though Kershaw appears in every fifth game. "You try to keep it to this year, but it's just so impressive what he does year after year after year," Gibson said. "The roll that he's on. You'd have a hard time not drafting him first in your fantasy league, wouldn't you? You have to give him credit for continuing to get better with what he's got. He has the will and determination to not stop where he's at. That's what separates him."
ON DECK
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw takes a 9-7 career record and 2.61 ERA against Arizona into Wednesday's start. Kershaw (15-3, 1.82 ERA) is 12-1 with a 1.30 ERA in his last 15 starts. He's 2-1 against the Diamondbacks this season but has given up nine earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.
Diamondbacks: LHP Wade Miley has a career high 157 strikeouts going into Wednesday's start. He's 7-9 on the year with a 4.29 ERA and is 3-4 with a 4.13 ERA in his career against the Dodgers. He's allowed three runs or less in eight of 11 career starts against L.A..
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu threw a bullpen session before Tuesday's game, and after facing hitters in a simulated game Wednesday could come off the disabled list and start Sunday at San Diego. Ryu is coming back from a right hip strain and has been on the DL since Aug. 15. If he doesn't get the start, Hernandez will take his place. LHP Paco Rodriguez (shoulder) also threw in the bullpen on Tuesday.
Diamondbacks: 1B Paul Goldschmidt had a CT scan on his broken left hand on Tuesday and will not need surgery. He'll start doing strengthening exercises in the next couple of weeks, Gibson said. Gibson is also hoping LHP Patrick Corbin can pitch again for the team next May or June. Corbin is on the 60-day DL after Tommy John surgery in March.
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