Dodgers Make Two Runs Stand Up in 2-1 Win Over Snakes

Playing the Dbacks is just what the doctor ordered for a struggling ball club. After the Dodger’s 14-inning debacle against Washington on Wednesday, the boys in blue needed a reprieve on Friday night. They were able to get that against an awful Arizona club as they held onto their 2 game lead in the NL West. A solid Haren start, bloop single from Hanley, and an opposite field solo home run from Kemp was the difference on Friday night at Dodger Stadium.

Despite only scoring two runs, the Dodgers were able to make those two runs hold up in a 2-1 win over the Snakes in the opener of a three game series.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Dbacks    1 4 0

Dodgers  2 7 0

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LP-Nuno-2-10

SV-Jansen-40

HR-Kemp-18

Starter Dan Haren pitched a pretty good game, although he wasn’t overpowering by any means. Haren did have ten 0-2 counts, and was able to get ahead of the Arizona hitters all night. Haren threw six innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits with one walk and four whiffs. Not fantastic, but good enough to win. Haren is now 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA in his last six starts.

His mound opponent left handed rookie Vidal Nuno pitched a good game as well, but took a tough luck loss. The Snakes rarely score runs for him. Sound familiar? Nuno allowed just one hit from the third inning on. His line read (7Ip 7H 2ER 2R 2BB 5SO), and is still winless as a Snake.

The Dodger offense did it’s usual early inning scoring and then nothing from the third inning on. The Dodgers had seven hits and two walks. The club scored one run in the second and one in the third. The Dodgers could have had more, but they continue to struggle with the bases loaded.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

In the bottom of the first, Yasiel Puig was hit by a pitch, and after Hanley grounded into a double play (The play was reviewed and the original safe call overturned), they got three consecutive singles from Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, and Scott Van Slyke. But Justin Turner flew out to right, and the Dodgers couldn’t score with the bases loaded once again.

The Dodgers then squeeked out a run in the second inning. With one out, A.J. Ellis walked, and Haren singled up the middle to put two runners on. After Puig flied out to right, Hanley Ramirez’s run scoring bloop single to right scored A.J. To give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers added a second run in the bottom of the third. Kemp blasted a lead-off home run into the Arizona bullpen to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. That opposite field home run was Kemp’s 18th of the season.

That would somehow hold up. The Dbacks only real offensive threat came in the top of the fifth. A.J. Pollock’s squibber rolled up the third base line hitting the bag and staying fair. Then Jake Lamb doubled and Didi Gregorius’s sacrifice fly to center scored Pollock to make the score 2-1 Dodgers.

Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

With a runner at third, Haren whiffed Nuno, and then after a walk to Inciarte, got Chris Owings to ground into a force out to preserve the lead. The Dodger bullpen was able to throw three scoreless frames. Pedro Baez pitched the seventh and then got one out in the eighth. Brian Wilson and J.P. Howell combined to get the last two outs in the top of the eighth. Kenley Jansen recovered from his blown save on Wednesday to toss a 123 top of the ninth to record his 40th save of the season. The Dodgers win 2-1!

If only the Dodgers could play the Snakes every day. The Dodgers have now won 13 out of 17 against the Dbacks this season. The Giants won in Detroit, so the Dodgers remain two games ahead in the NL West race. The Dodgers are now 79-62 on the year.

The three game weekend series continues on Saturday night. Young right hander Chase Anderson will counter Hyun-jin Ryu at 6:10 pm in the second game.