|
 Kendrick's leadoff blast to right field broke a 10th-inning tie and
helped the Dodgers earn a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks
at Chase Field.
In five games at the No. 2 spot, the second baseman is 12-for-21,
including a second four-hit game Tuesday.
"I just play my game," said Kendrick, who had two singles, a double
and the homer. "I can't really change how I hit depending on where I
am hitting. I'm just trying to take it as it comes and see what
happens."
In the 10th, Kendrick hit a 1-0 fastball from David Hernandez (0-1)
to the opposite field in right. With two outs in the inning, catcher
Yasmani Grandal capped a four-RBI day with a two-run double.
Kendrick, who has hit fourth and third most of the season, tied the
game at 3 with a single in the seventh.
"I don't know if he wasn't just getting ready to break out," Dodgers
manager Don Mattingly said. "I don't really think it is the two
hole, necessarily. It's working for him, so that's a good thing."
Grandal also hit a two-run homer in the second inning, his 12th of
the season. A switch hitter, both of his hits were to the opposite
field.
Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen gave up an RBI double to first
baseman Paul Goldschmidt in the bottom of the 10th before completing
his 12th save.
Jansen has 23 career saves against the Diamondbacks, his highest
total against any opponent, and he has 68 strikeouts in 39 innings
against Arizona.
Center fielder Joc Pederson and right fielder Yasiel Puig had two
hits apiece for the Dodgers (44-35), who are 5-2 in their past seven
games.
"The biggest thing for us is to just continue to play good baseball
and continue to put runs on the board," Kendrick said.
Diamondbacks second baseman Chris Owings had a sacrifice fly in the
second inning and shortstop Nick Ahmed hit a two-run homer in the
fourth, his sixth of the season and second of the series, to give
Arizona a 3-2 lead.
Third baseman Jake Lamb had two hits and scored twice, and right
fielder Yasmany Tomas added two hits for the Diamondbacks (37-40),
who lost for the fourth time in six games.
Hernandez, who returned in May after missing the 2014 season because
of Tommy John surgery, has given up five earned runs and 10 hits
over six innings in eight appearances.
[to top of second column] |
"It was just lack of command," Hernandez said. "I have been fighting
it since I have been back. I just have to make better pitches. You
can't really feel your way around up here. You have to be ready and
be sharp and tonight I wasn't sharp.
"You grow accustomed to pitching and feeling fine, like nothing
happened, but I know it is going to take time. Up here, there is no
time."
Arizona right-hander Rubby De La Rosa gave up two runs and struck
out seven in 5 2/3 innings but did not get a decision. He has
allowed four earned runs in his past four starts covering 27 2/3
innings.
Dodgers right-hander Carlos Frias, who pitched through back
stiffness, surrendered three runs on seven hits and three walks in
five innings.
Joel Peralta (2-1) pitched the ninth inning for the victory.
NOTES: Arizona optioned RHP Allen Webster to Triple-A Reno and
recalled RHP Matt Stites, a reliever. Webster was 1-1 with a 7.11
ERA in four starts after replacing RHP Josh Collmenter in the
rotation. Collmenter is a top candidate to start Saturday. ... LHP
Patrick Corbin will make his return to the Arizona rotation "most
likely Tuesday" in Texas, Arizona manager Chip Hale said. Corbin is
coming back from Tommy John surgery performed in March 2014. ...
Arizona C Oscar Hernandez, on the disabled list since spring
training with a fractured hamate bone, is close to returning. "We
should see him here over the weekend," Hale said. The Diamondbacks
must place Hernandez, a Rule 5 pick, on the active roster or offer
him back to the Tampa Bay Rays. ... Dodgers RHP Mike Bolsinger is
scheduled to make his next start Sunday after leaving his start
Monday because of food poisoning following four scoreless innings.
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
