Dodgers 2 Diamondbacks 4: Back to Two Games

The Dodgers drop game two against the Diamondbacks and since the Giants won this afternoon, the Dodgers are now two games back in the NL West.

Well things did not start out too great when Jean Segura hit a lead off home run in the top of the first inning. Scott Kazmir struggled greatly in the first two innings. In the top of the second inning, Two doubles gave the Diamondbacks another run to add to their lead. After Kazmir got another quick strike out, Segura doubled to left and all of a sudden the Diamondbacks were up by a score of 3 to 0. Kazmir threw 40 pitches in the first two innings. Kazmir settled down for the rest of the start thankfully. He ended up going 6.2 innings, allowed eight hits, four runs and seven strike outs. It seemed like it was either feast or famine for Kazmir tonight. He either got the D-Backs to strike out or they seemed to all be hitting doubles. He was pretty much lights out after the second inning and at one point retired ten straight batters.

Braden Shipley got the ball for the Diamondbacks and that young man was lights out. While it is frustrating to see the Dodgers offense struggle, it is important to give credit where credit is due. In just his second big league start, Shipley worked his way through a tough Dodger lineup. The Diamondbacks starter went six innings, allowed five hits, no runs and struck out four batters. The Dodgers had a hard time getting the ball out of the infield against Shipley. The D-Backs are also huge fans of the shift and seemed to implement it every time a Dodger came to the plate.

Dave Roberts called for a double switch in the seventh inning. He had Scott Van Slyke replace Howie Kendrick in left and Pedro Baez was coming in to take over for Kazmir. On Baez’s first pitch he hit Segura in the shoulder. He was clearly trying to just throw an up and in fastball that got away. Baez then allowed a single to Brandon Drury and the Diamondbacks lead was extended to four runs.

Van Slyke would come up big in his first plate appearance. Yasmani Grandal struck out for the first out in the bottom of the seventh. Then Andrew Toles came up and walked. Toles took second on a pass ball and Van Slyke singled to center which allowed Toles to score. The Dodgers FINALLY got on the board and the lead was cut to three runs with two outs in the inning. Van Slyke then made a pretty big boo-boo that took the Dodgers out of the inning when he tried to steal second, but was called out for the final out of the inning. Heading into the eighth inning, the score was now 4-1, Diamondbacks.

Things got interesting in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chase Utley flied out to center and Seager followed him up with a walk. Adrian Gonzalez singled with two outs and Seager advanced to third. Chris Taylor was put in the game to pinch hit for Baez, but he flied out to center. Chris Owings made all three outs of the inning.

J.P. Howell came in for the ninth and got two quick outs. Toles tried to track down a ball hit by David Peralta. He got a bad jump, but ran full speed into the visiting scoreboard out in right center. The impact of hitting the wall where there was no padding made Toles a little shocked. By the time he fielded the ball Peralta was on third with a triple. The trainer was sent out there to check on Toles who was bleeding from the lip. He seemed to be okay and insisted on staying in right for the remainder of the game. Louis Coleman came in looking for the final out in the ninth and he quickly got Segura to fly out to center. The Dodgers escaped trouble again.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Joc Pederson CRUSHED a baseball and sent it into the right field pavilions. If only someone was on base. Van Slyke claimed he was hit by a pitch on the calf and started to take first base, but the home plate umpire did not agree. Roberts called for a review, but the video only confirmed that Van Slyke was not hit. He resumed his AB and struck out swinging.

The Dodgers managed to get eight hits tonight, but struggled with runners in scoring position. It seemed like every key hit happened with two outs and they were unable to capitalize on key situations.

Corey Seager made a little Dodger history tonight. He tied Eric Karros’ rookie record for doubles in a season. Karros’ record has stood for 24 years and in his rookie year he hit 30 doubles. Seager has 30 doubles and there are two months left of baseball.

With a loss tonight and a Giants victory this afternoon, the Dodgers are still in second place, but behind the Giants by two games now. The series finale with the Diamondbacks is tomorrow and first pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM.