Kemp 4-For-4 In Return, Dodgers Beat Dbacks 9-3 To Reduce Magic Number To 2
PHOENIX (CBSLA.com/AP) — Juan Uribe and Adrian Gonzalez homered, Zack Greinke pitched six strong innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers inched closer to clinching the NL West title with a 9-3 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
One day after coming off the disabled list, Matt Kemp went 4 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
The Dodgers, who once languished in last place 9 1/2 games out, snapped a four-game skid and can clinch the division title by beating Arizona on Wednesday night.
Greinke (15-3) allowed two runs on six hits in six innings to improve to 7-0 in his last nine starts.
Patrick Corbin (14-7) gave up six runs on seven hits in two innings plus three batters, his shortest outing of the year. After starting the season 12-1, Corbin is 2-6 in his last 10 starts.
Aaron Hill hit a solo home run for the Diamondbacks.
Hanley Ramirez, who had missed the previous four games with a sore back, reached base four times with a single and three walks and scored three runs.
Mark Ellis and Ramirez got the Dodgers going with consecutive one-out singles in the first. Gonzalez popped out, but Kemp lashed a two-out double to right to bring home both runs. Uribe followed with his third home run of the season, a two-run shot to left made it 4-0.
Corbin retired the side in order in the second but walked Ramirez to start the third. Then on an 0-2 pitch, Gonzalez hit a soaring home run into the right field seats, his 17th homer of the season, and the Dodgers were up 6-0.
Kemp's double off the center field wall ended Corbin's brief but rough night.
Kemp, who had been sidelined since July 21 with a left ankle sprain, struck out as a pinch hitter to end Monday night's 2-1 loss to Arizona, but he had a big night in his first time in the starting lineup since his return.
His RBI single off Matt Langwell in the fourth put the Dodgers up 8-0.
Arizona scratched out a run in the fourth when Paul Goldschmidt and Eric Chavez led off with singles. Goldschmidt scored from third when Martin Prado grounded into a fielder's choice.
Hill's leadoff homer in the sixth cut the lead to 8-2.
Michael Young tripled home Ramirez with the Dodgers' ninth run in the eighth.
There is speculation Yasiel Puig, who has struggled at the plate recently, may get a few days off, should the Dodgers clinch the division.
The Dodgers won't have Clayton Kershaw on the mound Wednesday night as had been scheduled. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said before the game that Kershaw has been pushed back three days and will start Saturday in San Diego to give him some added rest. Right-hander Stephen Fife (4-3, 3.38 ERA) will start in what the Dodgers hope will be the clincher on Wednesday.
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