Los Angeles Dodgers defeat Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 in series-opener – MLB Recap
The National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers won both ends of the game as they overpowered the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-4 in the series-opener of the three-game series at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, July 15.
Juan Rivera hammered a blistering homer off the Diamondbacks’ starter Joe Saunders to open the game in the top of the second inning. Then Dioner Navarro scored an RBI single to take it to 2-0 in top of the fourth inning and Matt Kemp launched a two-run homer
in the sixth and scored an RBI double in the seventh to take the game to a 6-0 strong position.
As the Dodgers’ bat was swinging in an overwhelming manner, their starter Clayton Kershaw held the opposition scoreless in his first six innings. Kershaw struck-out eight batters and allowed only walks before entering into the seventh, in which he got a
little loose, allowed an RBI double and a two-run homer to receive four runs on five hits.
He left the mound after completing seven innings to take his tenth win of the season with 2.88 ERA. His reliever Mike MacDougal followed his path and tossed scoreless eighth inning to confirm his club their first win in the second half of the 2011 season.
Hong-Chih Kuo and Javy Guerra combined to toss ninth inning without allowing any run. Kuo took first two hurlers and Guerra got out Allen with a runner on first and third base to clinch his fifth save.
The 30-year-old Saunders struggled to get his momentum back, which he has shown in his last two wins. However, he failed to do so and allowed four runs on five hits over six innings. It was his eighth loss in 19 starts this season.
Aaron Heilman allowed two runs on three hits and walked one batter over one inning. Although Micah Owings and Alberto Castillo restricted the Dodgers’ batting line-up but they were unable to take their team back into the game. However, the Diamondbacks bull-pen
will be looking to improve their performance to get back in the series.
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