It's safe to say Hiroki Kuroda would like to run away from Chase Field as fast he can.
Already with the memory of getting beaned in the head last August, Kuroda was awful on Friday night, getting shelled for six runs in only 1 2/3 innings. The Diamondbacks cruised to an easy win, 12-5.
Kuroda was done in by some lousy pitches left up in the zone. The Diamondbacks were playing their first game since A.J. Hinch was fired as manager (and replaced by old friend Kirk Gibson), so they came out with something to prove. I'd say they did just that.
Chris Young was back in the leadoff spot and singled to start the game, then stole second. An RBI single by Kelly Johnson made it 1-0. Johnson stole second, Justin Upton walked, but was soon picked off of first. Mark Reynolds hit an RBI single and Tony Abreu (another old friend, though he sucked in L.A.) an RBI double to go up 3-0.
It was still early, and the Dodgers kept it close for a little bit. In the second, James Loney singled to start, part of his three-hit night. Casey Blake walked, but Garret Anderson hit into a double play. Shocking, I know. Still, Russell Martin walked, and Blake DeWitt scorched a two-run double to go down 3-2.
Not wasting any time, the Diamondbacks came right back. The first run was when Martin threw a ball into center trying to nail a base stealer. Miguel Montero hit an RBI double and Reynolds another RBI single for a 6-2 lead.
Loney kept the game honest in the third with an RBI single for a 6-3 score. But in the bottom of the frame, the Diamondbacks put this one away for good. Consecutive singles by Abreu and Gerardo Parra started the inning, and Young scored them both with a double. Montero soon added a sac-fly RBI for the 9-3 advantage.
Loney and DeWitt both added RBIs to round out the scoring for the Dodgers. If the Dodgers were hoping for a late charge, that was eliminated when Young launched a three-run homer off of Justin Miller in the seventh.
This game clearly belonged to the Diamondbacks from the very first pitch. It was just their night. They've played poorly all season, and have gone through another manager being fired. If they can play with the passion that made Gibson so good, they can be a solid team the rest of the year. But they'll need to prove they can do it more than just one night.
As for Kuroda, who knows how much playing in Arizona affected him. After all, he did pick up a win there back in May. I suppose he has visions of that horrific scene anytime he goes to the mound, but probably more so in Arizona. Who can blame him?
Ramon Troncoso was the only one who pitched well, going two scoreless innings. Jeff Weaver gave up three runs in 1 1/3, and Miller three in three. It wasn't pretty to watch.
The offense did well, but Anderson and Matt Kemp didn't. Anderson was 1-for-4 and hit into a double play. Please start Reed Johnson over him this weekend, Mr. Torre! Kemp hit in the #2 spot and was 0-for-4 with a run and walk. He's now down to a .264 average.
Clayton Kershaw was robbed of a win last Sunday against the Yankees (you know how... don't get me going). If anyone can quiet a team that just scored in double figures, it's Kershaw.
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