Over his last 10 games – including nine starts – Norris is 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA, striking out 59 batters in 53 innings. It’s frustrating for sure. “With Yasiel, I’m trying to be as sensitive to his hamstring as possible to not put him in a position to regress”, Roberts said before the game.
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Unhappy beginnings are not unusual for the veteran left-hander. 254 with seven home runs in 80 games for the Dodgers, who trail first-place San Francisco by two games in the National League West. Rookie Andrew Toles has made a positive impression while starting in place of Puig, who has made just one pinch-hitting appearance since suffering a strained hamstring July 21. The loss snapped his 13-game unbeaten streak.
Segura led the Diamondacks out of the starting gate by hitting Kazmir’s third pitch of the game over the fence for his fourth leadoff home run of the season.
Kazmir followed up a frightful first inning with three doubles allowed in the second frame as the Snakes staked a 3-0 lead before fans could find their seats. Kazmir, who enjoyed a 4-0 lead two innings into his previous start, suddenly found himself on the wrong end of a 3-0 score.
“The goal is to go out there and go as deep as you can and keep your team in the ballgame”, continued Kazmir.
Walton was always a great passer during his time as a player, and those skills appear to transfer to the diamond, where his the form on his pitch looked pretty good. The Dodgers are also 6-0 in Kazmir’s last six starts, 6-1 in his last seven home starts, and 4-1 in his last five home starts versus a team with a losing record.
“I’m super excited”, Shiply said of his first big-league win. “I think our guys competed, squared the baseball up, but didn’t have a whole lot to show tonight”.
Paul Goldschmidt capped a three-hit night with a bases-loaded double off Pedro Baez (3-2) that finished off Diamondbacks’ rally consisting of six hits and a pair of walks against five Dodger pitchers.
“Every win is a big one, but that arguably is the best win of the year”, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
A solo home run by Joc Pederson in the ninth inning was too little, too late.
“He’s really seeing the ball well”, Roberts added of Pederson.
Jake Barrett got the final four outs for his third save.
Jean Segura: 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two RBI and a run scored.
Braden Shipley: No runs on five hits in 6 IP. According to Baseball Almanac, the longest inning in MLB history was a 68-minute fifth inning on May 8, 2004 between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers. Kazmir (9-4) hadn’t lost a start in July since 2010.Brandon Drury drove in pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin, who reached on a double, in the seventh inning for a 4-0 advantage to cap the Arizona scoring. The all-time record is 52 set by Johnny Frederick in 1929.
That was on July 7, but a lot can happen in 24 days.
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The Dodgers finish off their five-game homestand on Sunday afternoon, with Bud Norris on the mound in the series finale against the Diamondbacks. It gave the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offense the opportunity for its most memorable outburst yet.
