Editorials

Diamondbacks Hang 5 On Brett Anderson, Hand Dodgers 3rd Consecutive Loss

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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Yasmany Tomas jumped on Anderson’s first pitch in the fourth inning and tied the game with a solo home run. Drury followed with a double, also coming on Anderson’s first pitch. With two outs and Drury standing on third base, the Dodgers caught a break as it was ruled Inciarte ran out of the baseline to avoid Gonzalez’s tag.



Chacin set the Dodgers down in order in the bottom of the fourth to keep the game tied at 2-2. The Diamondbacks continued to swing at pitches early in the count in the fifth, which resulted in Hill’s solo home run giving Arizona a 3-2 lead. Pollock followed with a double and Goldschmidt’s single left runners on the corners with no outs.

Welington Castillo’s RBI single tacked on another run and two force outs later, the Diamondbacks lead grew to 5-2. Pedro Baez replaced Anderson and promptly walked Ahmed on four pitches before striking out Chacin to end the inning.

Chase Utley worked a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fifth, but was erased from the bases on a Gonzalez double play. Kendrick grounded out to third base and it was another quiet inning for the Dodgers. Pollock hit a hustle double with two outs in sixth and Baez followed that by intentionally walking Goldschmidt.

A wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, but it didn’t cost the Dodgers as Castillo popped up to end the inning. Chacin issued a pair of walks in the bottom of the sixth and was replaced by Andrew Chafin with one out. Scott Van Slyke pinch-hit for Pederson and struck out swinging on a full count.

Scott Schebler hit for Baez and also struck, ending the inning with two runners stranded and the Dodgers still trailing, 5-2. Matt Reynolds hit Utley with a pitch in the bottom of the seventh, then retired the next two batters faced to get out of the inning unscathed.

Goldschmidt added a solo home run in the eighth off Joel Peralta, pushing the Diamondbacks’ lead to 6-2. After walking Seager with one out in the bottom half of the inning, Reynolds gave up a two-run home run to Grandal and was removed from the game.

Daniel Hudson came on in relief and snagged a line drive off Van Slyke’s bat to record a fortunate second out. Alex Guerrero then pinch-hit and flied out to deep left-center field to end the inning.

Juan Nicasio gave up back-to-back base hits with no outs in the ninth, and was removed after an Ahmed sacrifice bunt. Ian Thomas entered and allowed a two-run single to Inciarte that gave the Diamondbacks some insurance and an 8-4 lead. Brad Ziegler tossed a scoreless ninth inning to hand the Dodgers a third consecutive loss.

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3 Comments

  1. How about just bringing Kershaw, Greinkie and Jensen into the playoffs? Leave the rest of the pitching staff at home.

    On days that Kershaw starts Greinkie can do middle relief and vice, versa. If needed, Jensen can close out the 9th.

    The Dodgers would have a better chance to win it all with only K, G, & J pitching and excluding the rest of these gas cans from the playoffs. It’s an idea…just saying.

    It seems they still can’t beat strong lineups and playoff bound teams.

    I think my scenario is just as practical as the decisions Mattingly will have to make with these inconsistent, overpaid, schizophrenic, under achieving pitchers, and can you imagine the “Playoff Cred” Kershaw will have if he wins?

  2. All we needed this year was some additional decent pitching, and yet, the front office couldn’t even do that. Also, while they may have secured us first place for now, they will not secure us a world series win this year with the decisions they have made. Those decisions, along with some questionable decisions by DM, will still have us chasing after a title again next year.

  3. Can Kike pitch? He seems to be able to do everything else. I’d trust him on the hill over 90% of the pen

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