The Bell Doth Toll for the Diamondbacks

Dodgers- 8 12 1

Diamondbacks- 7  15 2

WP- Lindblom (2-0)

LP- Putz (0-3)

S- Jansen (6)

HR- Bell (1), Overbay (2)

2012 is shaping up to be something very special for us Dodger fans. The new GBM era has begun, and with it came heart-filled baseball played on the field. Fans, many of whom have boycotted Dodger Stadium, are beginning to return to the stands. In this the sacred 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium, can our Boys in Blue bring a golden World Championship back to the city of Los Angeles? We still have a lot of baseball yet to play, but there’s no denying that the Dodgers are contenders. We aren’t mired in bankruptcy any longer, and the weight of ownership uncertainty has been lifted. No one ever thought or predicted that this team could have the best record in all of baseball. But here we are. Perhaps with some strategy at the trade deadline, injury rehab, continued output by our solid rotation and offense, and a little luck, we can be playing in October. I believe, do you?

Aaron Harang will try to bury the D-backs even further down in the NL West standings as he takes the hill tonight at Chase Field. The D-backs are now 10 1/2 games back of the Dodgers, and it seems as though their potent offense of last season has fizzled out this year so far. Even with stand-ins and minor league prospects starting for the Dodgers, they seem to find a way to win.

The Dodgers  couldn’t do much of anything against Trevor Cahill, and the D-backs’ offense slithered back to life against Harang. The Dodgers rally for five in the seventh to tie up the game, but Lyle Overbay‘s monster blast against Lindblom in the eighth puts the D-backs in line for the win. Until the hero of the night, Ivan DeJesus, doubles in two runs in the ninth inning to give the Dodgers the edge for their eventual victory. How did this epic game start? Let’s take a look.

Tony Gwynn Jr. is leading off for the Dodgers tonight and loops a single to center field to start things off. Dee Gordon is starting at shortstop, but he has been bumped down to the eight spot. Gwynn tries to steal second with Elian Herrera batting. Henry Blanco, the 41-year old catcher for the D-backs, hangs out Tony Gwynn Jr. out to dry with a spot on throw to second. Trevor Cahill gets Herrera to ground out on a bunt attempt. Bobby Abreu also grounds out for the third out.

In the bottom of the first, Willie Bloomquist leads off with a single which is deflected off Adam Kennedy‘s glove. Ryan Roberts grounds into a force play as Dee Gordon makes a nice stop in the hole, but Herrera loses the ball in the act of throwing before he can throw to first. With Justin Upton batting, Aaron Harang makes an error attempting to pickoff Roberts at first. The throw is low and gets by Loney. Harang gets out of the inning by striking out both Upton and Jason Kubel.

Andre Ethier walks to lead off the second inning for the Dodgers. While Kennedy is busy whiffing at the plate, Dre is thrown out by Blanco trying to steal second. That’s the second Dodger Blanco has caught stealing during this young game.

In the bottom half of the second, Chris Young grounds out and Lyle Overbay singles to right field. Josh Bell, the former Dodger prospect, hits a humongous 453 foot two-run homerun into the second level. The D-backs take a 2-0 lead. Henry Blanco singles to keep the D-backs rolling. Cahill strikes out, and Dee Gordon spears a line drive by Bloomquist to finally end the inning.

In the third A.J. Ellis and Dee Gordon hit back-to-back singles.  Aaron Harang can’t lay down a bunt, and he strikes out swinging for the first out. Tony Gwynn hits into a double play, and they still have goose eggs in the run column.

Ryan Roberts continues the hitting onslaught against Harang by opening up with a stand up double in the bottom of the third. Justin Upton singles in Robert, and the D-backs tack on another run. Kubel pops up for the first out. While Chris Young strikes out at the plate, Justin Upton is caught stealing. The damage is contained to one run.

Elian Herrera strikes to begin the fourth for the Dodgers. Abreu draws a walk. Ethier hits into a force play as he just does beat out the double play throw. Kennedy flies out, and the inning is over.

Overbay leads off with a single in the bottom half of the fourth. Bell grounds into a force out. Blanco and Cahill both strike out swinging.

In the top of the fifth Loney strikes out, and A.J. Ellis grounds out to put two outs quickly on the board for the Dodgers. Dee Gordon singles, and it looks like the few days off did him some good. With Harang at the plate, Dee Gordon steals second. Harang strikes out to end the frame.

Harang starts the bottom of the fifth off by serving up another hit to Bloomquist-a double to left field. Roberts sacrifices Willie over to third. Upton adds fuel to the fire by doubling into the left field corner, and the D-backs now lead 4-0. Harang finally gets hooked. Donnie decides to bring in Scott Elbert from the bullpen. Upton moves to third on a wild pitch by Elbert. That’s Elbert’s specialty-the wild pitch. Upton scores on a sacrifice fly by Kubel, 5-0 D-backs. Young strikes out, but not before the D-backs add two more runs.

 Aaron Harang pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing 9 hits, 5 runs, no walks, and 6 strikeouts on 83 pitches.

In the sixth, Gwynn leads off with a bunt single. I must say he has been an effective leadoff hitter. Herrera gets a base hit after the ball bounces off Bell’s chest. Abreu strikes out. A wild pitch moves the runners over to second and third. Ethier’s scoring fly ball gets him his 40th RBI as Gwynn scores, and the Dodgers have broken up the shutout. 5-1 D-backs. Adam Kennedy draws a two-out walk, and there are runners at first and third for Loney. Lyle Overbay backhands Loney’s grounder to save an extra base hit, and the Dodgers only muster one run in the inning.

Scott Elbert is still in for the sixth. Overbay leads off with a double to the gap, and he goes 3 for 3 on the night so far. Bell strikes out. Blanco doubles home Overbay, and the D-backs lead 6-1. Aaron Hill grounds into an inning ending double play.

The Dodgers would rain on the D-backs’ parade in the seventh with a comeback for the ages. A.J. Ellis singles to lead off the seventh against new D-back pitcher Brad Ziegler. Dee Gordon bunts and reaches safely on a fielder’s choice when Ziegler attempts to throw to second, and the inaccurate throw goes into center field. Ziegler draws an error. Jerry Sands, pinch-hitting, hits an inside out double down the right field line, and Ellis scores. 6-2. Craig Breslow, the loogy, replaces Ziegler on the mound for Arizona. Tony Gwynn comes up with his third hit just by Overbay, and that cashes in Gordon and Sands! The Dodgers have cut the D-backs lead to 6-4. Gwynn is 9 for 18 with runners in scoring position. Herrera reaches safely on an error by Bell who bobbles the groundball hit by Elian. There is now two on and nobody out. Bobby takes advantage of the flustering snakes as he singles in Gwynn. It’s now a one-run game and still there is nobody out. Ethier singles, and the Dodgers now have the bases juiced. The bullpen meltdown spurs Arizona to pull out another arm as they call in Brian Shaw to face Ivan DeJesus with the bases loaded and nobody out. DeJesus’s slicing fly ball to right field allows Herrera to score. And it’s all tied up! You can never count this team out. We find a way to win. James Loney spoils the chance to get ahead in the game by hitting into a double play.

Trevor  Cahill pitched 6 innings, allowing 6 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, and 6 strikeouts on 104 pitches.

Ronald Belisario comes into pitch the seventh, and he strikes out Bloomquist on three fastballs for the first out. Roberts singles into center. Upton flies out. Kubel strikes out.

David Hernandez comes in for the eighth, and he is the fifth pitcher for Arizona. A.J. Ellis goes down on strikes (a rare occurrence). Gordon grounds out. Justin Sellers strikes out, and the Dodgers go down in order.

Josh Lindblom will pitch the bottom of the eighth for the Dodgers. Young pops out. Lyle Overbay bombs a huge homerun off Lindblom, which is his fourth hit on the night, and the D-backs take back the lead 7-6. Bell grounds out. Blanco singles, but Gerardo Parra lines out to Dee Gordon.

J.J Putz comes in to try to close it out for Arizona in the top of the ninth. Tony Gwynn pops up for the first out. Elian Herrera draws a one-out walk to keep the Dodgers’ hope alive. Abreu walks, and there are two on with one out for Ethier. Ethier strikes out, and the Dodgers are down to their last out. Then the most unlikely hero…Ivan DeJesus… doubles in two runs! I couldn’t believe my own eyes! It was a double to deep center field. It’s now 8-7 Dodgers! Loney once again ends the inning with a groundout. We head to the bottom of the ninth!

Kenley Jansen will try to end this game, but after all the twists and turns I don’t suppose it will be easy. Bloomquist reaches on a strikeout wild pitch. Ryan Roberts strikes out, but that’s just the first out. Upton singles, and the tying run is now at third. Kubel hits into a game ending double play! What a doozy!

The Dodgers are now 30-13 as they pick up their sixth consecutive victory. The D-backs fall to  11 1/2 games back in the standings. Tomorrow Ted Lilly and Joe Saunders will face each other at 6:40 pm as the Dodgers seek to sweep the snakes! What a game. What a season. What a team.