The Dodgers took the field on Saturday being tied with the Dbacks for first, but a 3-2 loss drops them to second before they head into Sunday’s rubber match.
Dan Haren silenced the Dodger bats for seven innings, giving them no runs with 7 K’s and just four hits. Jeff Kent gave the Dodgers hope with a leadoff solo homerun in the ninth before James Loney singled and was driven home by Delwyn Young. Young was moved to third on Blake DeWitt’s groundout and Andruw Jones walked to represent the go-ahead run at first, but Matt Kemp flied out to end the rally.
Chad Billingsley was tagged for two runs in the first and one more in the fourth to take his ninth loss. He gave up a one-out solo homerun in the first followed by another run that scored after Young misplayed a ball in center. That one run seemed insignificant early on but it proved to be the game-winner. Billingsley then got out of a bases-loaded jam in the second by inducing a double play and left being down 0-3 in the sixth. Joe Beimel and Cory Wade kept the Dbacks scoreless to give the offense a chance to come from behind, but their ninth inning rally fell short.
A win in Sunday’s rubber match will give the Dodgers the series win as well as a share of first place. Derek Lowe will take on Brandon Webb. Lowe, pitching on 10 days’ rest, has lowered his ERA to 3.85 while Webb sports a 13-4 record and is 2-0 in his last four starts.
