The Dodgers did everything they could hope to do against Ian Kennedy to start the game. After Chad Billingsley (not) surprisingly allowed a couple runs, the bats collected four runs on five hits and took control of the game.
Three whole hits and some lousy bullpen work over the final nine innings gave the game right back.
Javy Guerra fell apart in the 10th, walking home the go-ahead run, and the Dodgers fell to the Diamondbacks, 5-4. The Dodgers have now dropped three straight after finally reaching the .500 mark.
The first inning was full of action for both teams. Gerardo Parra led off the game with a single and then stole second. Billingsley got Aaron Hill and Justin Upton, but then watched Miguel Montero launch a two-run shot for the 2-0 lead.
Facing an ace like Kennedy, the Dodgers knew they'd be in for a tough haul. But, not only did they get those runs back, they took the lead as well. It all started with a double to left by Dee Gordon. Justin Sellers hit a bloop single into right, and Matt Kemp got one run back with a sac-fly RBI to make it 2-1.
Juan Rivera popped up to make it two down. The next three hitters all made noise to grab the lead. James Loney ripped an RBI double to tie the game. Aaron Miles followed with an RBI single, and Jerry Sands lined another run-scoring double. Add it all up, and the Dodgers had a 4-2 lead.
The Diamondbacks got within a run in the third. Hill doubled with one down and went to third on Upton's single. Montero got another run in with a sac-fly RBI, and it was 4-3.
With the Dodgers' offense suddenly quiet after a big start to the game, Hong-Chih Kuo had another horrible relief appearance in the seventh. Billingsley got the first out before making way for Kuo. Collin Cowgill then popped up, and it was looking like an easy inning. And just like that, Parra blasted a solo shot, and it was 4-4.
Kenley Jansen had to bail Kuo out of the rest of the inning, and then went ahead and pitched a scoreless eighth. The Dodgers could do nothing against Brad Ziegler and David Hernandez, but got a threat going against Micah Owings in the ninth. Sands walked with one down, and Jamey Carroll singled with two outs. Gordon tried to be a hero, but lined out to left to sent it into extras.
Extra inning games for the Dodgers have actually been a good thing, as up to this point, they were unbeaten at home. You wouldn't know that, though, from watching Guerra, as he came undone after pitching a flawless ninth.
Parra started the rally with a single leading off. Hill sacrificed him to second and Upton struck out to make it two down. Montero was intentionally walked to set up the forceout, only Peter Goldschmidt drew a walk to load the bases. Chris Young also walked to force in the game's deciding run.
J.J. Putz collected his 40th save by striking out Sellers and Kemp, and inducing a grounder from Loney to end it.
Even though the Dodgers have long been out of the playoff picture, this was still a pretty disappointing loss. For starters, they put up a four-spot against a Cy Young candidate in the first inning, and could not capitalize on it. Then there's Kuo, who's season continued to dwindle down even further.
It's hard to criticize Guerra too much, mostly because he's been so good this year. Obviously, his control problems were too much to overcome, as he just handed the last run away. It was eerily reminiscent of the troubles Jonathan Broxton went through the last couple of years. Thankfully Guerra isn't that bad, so let's not go crazy here!
Another big reason for the loss? Kemp and Rivera, hitting #3 and #4 in the order, went a combined 0-for-8 with one RBI and four strikeouts. Needless to say, it's hard to get much going when the heart of the order does squat.
The Dodgers will look to salvage at least one game of this three-game set on Wednesday night. Good thing for them, they have Clayton Kershaw taking the hill. With an 18-5 record and three starts left, he has a realistic chance at getting that magical 20th win.
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