Dodgers fall to Diamondbacks on extra inning HR as September comes for the stretch run (9/12)
10:10 PM ET, August 31, 2012
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
The Arizona Diamonbacks broke their six game losing streak Thursday night against the Dodgers and looked to start a new winning streak Friday night at Chivas Ravine. The Dodgers rallied back from a 3 run deficit only to lose 4 – 3 in the 11th inning after Jason Kubel’s homerun put the D’backs up for good.
Aaron Harang took the mound for the Dodgers and made it through 5 innings while giving up 5 hits and 3 earned runs. Trevor Cahill put out a similar performance through 5.2 innings while giving up 4 hits and 3 earned runs. The difference came down to the bullpens and the Dodgers took a big chance by putting out Matt Guerrier. Guerrier last pitched April 18 and it showed when he gave up the winning homerun to Kubel on a 1 – 1 pitch. J.J. Putz got his 28th save by striking out Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier while retiring A.J. Ellis on a fly ball.
The D’backs earned their first run in the second when Chris Johnson’s mile high fly ball to right field got lost in the lights. It appeared like a routine fly ball until the ball landed behind Ethier’s contorted stretch allowing Miguel Montero to score.
With Friday night attendance at 37,622, you have to wonder if the honeymoon period is over after some of the biggest acquisitions in MLB history. Injuries to Billingsley, Jansen and Kemp may be the difference down the stretch for Los Angeles’ chances. Kemp was activated for tonight’s game, but has some rust to work out. Maybe the Dodgers’ recent moves really are for next season unless they can put something together as the season approaches its last month.
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