The Dodgers took a 1-2 loss to Arizona on Friday to drop three games back in the division while now they can only get a series split at best.
The addition of Manny to the roster required someone to get the boot, and for at least 15 days, it will Nomar-he was placed on the DL for his sprained left knee. Manny’s spot in right also prompted Torre to make at least a temporary lineup change…and for now, Juan Pierre will take center with Kemp in right, which puts both Andre Ethier and Andruw Jones on the bench. Pierre sat on Friday because of the matchup with Randy Johnson, but will be the almost everyday centerfielder from now on.
As for the game, it was almost identical to Thursday’s: the Dodgers scored one in the sixth for the lead but the Dbacks came back in the seventh with two runs for the win. Matt Kemp had an RBI-double in the sixth to score pinch hitter Juan Pierre. That extends Kemp’s hit streak to 19 games, but he was thrown out after rounding third on Manny’s infield single. Manny was 2 for 4 in his Dodger debut, but grounded into a double play in the ninth to end the Dodgers’ chance at a win.
Clayton Kershaw had good enough numbers for a win: six innings, no runs, four hits, and three K’s. This shutout adds to his now 12 consecutive scoreless innings, but he still has just one win in his 11 starts. Chan Ho Park takes the loss after surrendering a leadoff homer to Tony Clark in the seventh followed by an RBI-single to Stephen Drew for the go-ahead run. Park takes the blown save and the loss and got just one out before leaving the game. Joe Beimel, Cory Wade, and Jonathan Broxton then all saw work out of the bullpen.
Tonight is a must-win for the Dodgers to avoid the series’ loss. Hiroki Kuroda will take the mound and face Yusmeiro Petit. Kuroda has been up and down all season, but is 0-2 in three starts since the All-Star break. Petit was recently brought up and added to the Diamondback’s rotation and is 1-1 in his first two starts.
