Dodgers 9 Diamondbacks 10: Comeback Was Fun, The Rest Wasn’t

The Dodgers fought back, but couldn’t outlast the Diamondbacks in extra innings.

The Dodgers nearly had a huge comeback win, but the Diamondbacks broke through in the 12th. They ruined a chance at a six-game lead, but they showed some fight and didn’t go down quietly.

Dodgers Starter

Jose De Leon picked a bad time to have the worst start of his young career.

Defense hurt JDL in the second, as an error by 2B Charlie Culberson allowed a run. The error loomed larger a few batters later, when rather than come up with two outs, the opposing pitcher was able to bunt two runners into scoring position. Both scored on a Jean Segura single, and the Diamondbacks had a 3-0 lead.

The wheels came off in the fourth, when De Leon gave up a single and a homer to put the Dodgers down 5-0. A single and a double made it 6-0, and chased De Leon from the game.

De Leon’s final line wasn’t pretty. He allowed six runs and seven hits in 3.2 innings, although only four of those runs were earned. He walked two and struck out two, so it was a contact-heavy game that didn’t work out well for him. It wasn’t pretty and probably gives Ross Stripling the inside track to make the Dodgers postseason roster.

Dodgers Offense

The Dodgers faced a lefty, so the game started out roughly. Robbie Ray had a perfect game going until the fifth. However, he lost the perfect game, no-hitter and shutout on one mistake pitch to Enrique Hernandez, who hit the ball out to left field.

The Dodgers exploded for a six-run sixth. Howie Kendrick and Justin Turner hit back-to-back doubles for a second run, but Ray got two outs. Rob Segedin drew a walk, and Hernandez hit a single to bring in Turner and chase Ray from the game.

Randall Delgado came in and walked two batters, including Austin Barnes with the bases loaded to plate another run. Adrian Gonzalez pinch hit, so the Diamondbacks countered with lefty Escobar. Gonzo crushed a bases-loaded double to clear the bases and tie the game at seven.

The Dodgers led momentarily in the eighth, when Josh Reddick walked and Barnes singled. Kendrick laced a double to bring them both home and give the Dodgers the lead for the first time today.

The offense went quiet for the rest of the game, which led to a loss. On most days, scoring nine runs should get the job done. This surely wasn’t most games.

Dodgers Bullpen

Jesse Chavez finished off De Leon’s fourth inning and was pulled. Considering that the best relievers weren’t available for the Dodgers due to overuse, maybe Chavez should have gotten more than one batter. He was pinch hit for and the Dodgers had a chance to score (but didn’t), so I can sorta understand taking him out here.

J.P. Howell also got one batter, and struck out Jake Lamb to begin the fourth. He was pulled for Bud Norris, who allowed a homer to Chris Drury. Norris allowed a single and a wild pitch, but escaped the inning without further damage.

With the game tied, Josh Ravin and Josh Fields each threw a scoreless inning to give the Dodgers a chance to take the lead. When the offense did score, Louis Coleman gave it up in the eighth. Chris Owings hit a two-out, two-run homer to tie the game up at nine. Coleman allowed another single before getting pulled.

Adam Liberatore took over for Coleman in the eighth and walked his batter to bring in Stripling. Stripling issued a walk to load the bases, but Kendrick made a nice play at third to keep the game tied.

Stripling got in a little jam in the ninth, but stranded runners on the corners to send the game to extras. He kept the Diamondbacks off the board until the 12th, but ended up giving up a walk-off single to lose the game

Grant Dayton, Joe Blanton and Kenley Jansen were all probably unavailable. With the Giants series coming up, they need all hands on deck for that.

Other Stuff

The loss means the Dodgers won’t extend their lead to six. It remains at five as the Cardinals shut out the Giants, and the magic number shrinks to nine.

At worst, the Dodgers will be two games up after the Giants series. I don’t think they’ll get swept and I obviously hope they don’t, but it’s always nice to know that no matter what, they’ll have a solid lead in the division.

The Dodgers return home for their final homestand tomorrow. Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner kick off the vital series.