Series Recap: Dodgers Snake-bit in Arizona

Back from the All-Star break, the Los Angeles Dodgers traveled to Chase Field, site of the All-Star game, where they would begin part two of the 2011 season with a three game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fresh off the hype surrounding the All-Star game, Kemp, Ethier and Kershaw were ready to get back to the games that mattered.

Clayton Kershaw took the mound on Friday against Joe Saunders, and familiar faces filled Mattingly’s line-up card with the exception of the left fielder batting fifth. Juan Rivera, who was traded to the Dodgers over the break, was eager to make a quick impression to his new team. Saunders’ first pitch to Rivera in the 2nd ended up in the stands, giving the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Rivera also scored in the fourth off of a Navarro single. Although his Dodger debut was one to remember, Rivera’s spotlight would be stolen by All-Star Kemp. With fellow All-Star Andre Ethier on base, Kemp hit his 23rd homer of the campaign, added a hit a two-run single to score Kershaw and Uribe in the seventh, giving the Dodgers a 6-0 lead. Speaking of Kershaw, through six innings, he hadn’t allowed a run, though he did run into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the seventh. After striking out Home Run Derby snub Justin Upton, Chris Young got on base thanks to a Uribe error. After Stephen Drew struck out swinging, with two outs, Ryan Roberts walked to set up Miguel Montero’s RBI single. Xavier Nady came up with two men on and cleared the bases with a three-run shot to center field. Although all four runs were unearned due to the gaffe by Uribe, Kershaw blamed himself for the runs. Luckly, the score still showed the Dodgers up 6-4. The bullpen held the lead till they handed the ball to Guerra. With two on and two out, Guerra struck out Brandon Allen for his fifth save. Five in a row for the boys in blue, yet another game was on the horizon.

Kemp had that All-Star swagger on Friday and it would bleed over into Saturday. Hiroki Kuroda was on the mound facing Ian Kennedy. In the second inning, Kemp would go yard for the 24th time this season, second in as many games. A quick 1-0 lead gave the Dodgers hope of extending the win streak to six, butt hat all changed in the bottom of the inning. Montero lead off the inning with a single and journeymen Geoff Blum followed with a double. Allen, who Friday night was struck out to end the game, faced a 3-2 count against Kuroda, but found a fastball he liked and deposited it into right field to give the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead. Pitching well enough through four, Kennedy faltered in the fifth inning. Miles lead off the inning coaxing a walk, and two batters later, Navarro singled. With two outs and men at second and third, Tony Gwynn Jr. loaded the bases with a walk, to which Furcal followed up with a walk of his own. Down 3-2 with the bases loaded, Ethier stepped up to the batter’s box in his hometown, and made contact, only to pop it up. Kennedy averted the threat and the lead remained, although only one. It was enough as the D-backs held on to that lead the rest of the way to snap a season high five game win-streak for the Dodgers. After losing on one swing of Allen’s bat, they’d hope to regroup and begin a new win streak in the series finale on Sunday.

After homering in back to back games, it seemed like Matt Kemp was keying the Dodger offense on his own. He had somehow produced 5 of the 8 runs so far this series, but he needed help. Veteran Ted Lilly took the mound in this one against workhorse Daniel Hudson, and unfortunately for the Dodgers, this day seem to belong to Hudson. Thanks to a Roberts homerun, Daniel Hudson had a lead in the second inning. Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth inning, with Hudson at the plate with a 1-0 lead, where he helped himself with his first career homerun. The solo-shot gave him a two-run cushion to work with. A wild pitch in the seventh allowed Matt Kemp to score, but in the bottom of the frame, after an intentional walk to Nady, Hudson singled with the bases loaded and brought in both Roberts and Young. Three driven in, along with a  five-hit gem was enough for Hudson as Arizona cruised to a 4-1 win.

For the Dodgers, the three game set loss dropped them to 42-53, as they begin a three game set on Monday against the San Fransisco Giants at AT&T Park. The boys in blue need more offense to have a chance in this series. Matt Kemp has become a regular contributor. Hopefully, Juan Rivera can help out the cause. All it takes is a spark.

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