Manny and Casey Blake both smashed homeruns and Hiroki Kuroda threw a strong seven-plus innings to give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead over the Dbacks.
Manny Ramirez put the Dodgers on top in the first inning with a two-run homerun, his first in a Dodgers’ uniform. Casey Blake then made it 3-0 the next inning with a solo shot of his own. Jeff Kent also went 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the sixth. Manny, Blake, Kent and James Loney all had two hits apiece for the Dodgers’ 11 total.
Kuroda brought his A-game on Saturday, holding the Dbacks to four hits, one run, and no walks while striking out six. Kuroda allowed a leadoff homer to Miguel Montero in the third, but he recovered by retiring the next 16 of 17 batters. He came out in the eighth with two on. Hong-Chih Kuo finished the inning and came on for the ninth. Johnathan Broxton was sidelined for the save opportunity because of a sore arm, and after Kuo gave up a run in the ninth to make it a 4-2 game, Chan Ho Park was brought in to get the extra out and the save.
