The Dodgers blasted a season-high four homeruns, including James Loney’s game winner in the 11th, to get the win and bring them to a dead tie with the Dbacks in the division.
The Dodgers took a lead in the first with three runs before the Dbacks came back to take the lead in the bottom half. Nomar hit a two-run shot in the third to make it 6-5 before adding another homerun, a solo shot in the sixth. Matt Kemp added a solo shot, his 10th of the year, in the seventh to tie it up and send it to extras. James Loney hit a leadoff solo homerun in the 11th for the go-ahead and winning run. Nomar’s two-homer performance was the first time he’s done that since 2002. Andre Ethier also had two doubles, and Kemp and Russell Martin each totaled two hits. Andruw Jones was 0 for 2 with 2 K’s before being lifted in the fifth for flu-like symptoms.
It took eight Dodger pitchers in 11 innings, but they got the job done. Kuroda was given three runs of support in the first but allowed the Dbacks to score four in the bottom half and two more in the second before being pulled. Jason Johnson, just called up from Las Vegas and making his debut as a Dodger, then came in out of the pen for three innings, holding the Dbacks to just one run off a groundout. The bullpen then held the Dbacks scoreless after the third to allow the offense to come back for the win. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched an impressive two innings with 4 K’s. Chan Ho Park also came in as relief for an inning. Cory Wade earned the win and Jonathan Broxton took the closer role for the night for his first save of the season with a 1-2-3 11th inning, striking out the final two batters to end the game.
The Dodgers and Dbacks are now both two games under .500, but a win tonight would put the Dodgers alone atop the NL West. Chad Billingsley will get the nod and face Dan Haren. Billingsley is 5-1 in his last 6 decisions, but has lost twice in both starts against Arizona this season. Haren is 8-5 and 2-1 lifetime against the Dodgers.
