D-backs can't hold 4-run lead in 7th, fall to Dodgers
LOS ANGELES -- The Arizona Diamondbacks came through in a big way to take the lead in the top of the seventh, then gave away the game in the bottom of the inning.
"We fought. We hit them. They hit us," Wellington Castillo said after the Diamondbacks scored seven runs in their big inning before losing 9-7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night. "They got two more runs and get the win, but you know, we never give up.
"We always keep competing and keep attacking. Keep hitting our pitches. I think that's it. We never give up."
Los Angeles sent 10 men to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, scoring five times, a half-inning after the Diamondbacks sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven runs.
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.
In a flash, the high of erasing a 3-0 deficit was replaced by the disappointment of letting a 7-3 lead get away.
"It's frustrating. I feel bad for the guys," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. "They battled their hearts out. I'm frustrated. I know the guys are frustrated."
Arizona lost for the eighth time in their last 10 games.
"I know it's hard right now to get a tough loss after coming out and scoring like that," reliever Zac Curtis said. "But being able to get past it is the big thing. I think that everyone can do it."
In the other clubhouse, the Dodgers were relishing this one which finally turned on Yasmani Grandal's RBI single to cap the Dodgers' decisive five-run rally.
"Every win is a big one but that arguably is the best win of the year," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "My memory might be short, but, yeah, we are resilient.
"For the offense to respond like that: to give up seven runs and come back and score score five runs, and never quit. Earlier in the year, that probably would never have happened."
Joc Pederson and Chase Utley each hit two-run home runs in the deciding rally as the Dodgers erased a 7-3 deficit and improved to 17-9 since June 26.
Three batters after Corey Seager doubled against Curtis (0-1), Grandal hit a 2-1 pitch from Randall Delgado into center field, scoring Seager from third with the tiebreaking run.
Los Angeles pulled one game behind the division-leading Giants, the closest the Dodgers have been to first place since May 15.
With the Dodgers trailing 7-3, Pederson, who also had a two-run double in the second, tied his career-high with four RBIs with a two-run homer off Daniel Hudson, pulling the Dodgers to 7-5.
After Scott Van Slyke walked, Utley hit the first pitch he saw from Curtis over the right-center field wall to tie the score.
Seager then scored the tiebreaking run later in the inning and added an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth for the final margin.
Kenley Jansen retired the final four Arizona hitters for his 31st save.
The Diamondbacks' seventh-inning explosion squashed Kenta Maeda's bid to become the first rookie to win 10 games this year.
Maeda held the Diamondbacks to two runs and four hits, retiring 16 of 17 hitters as he shut out Arizona through six innings. He struck five and did not walk a batter.
Over his last four starts, Maeda has struck out 26 and walked one over 23 innings.
Rookie Andrew Toles notched his first career RBI for Los Angeles.
Diamondbacks: Zack Greinke was on a 60-pitch limit Friday night in a rehab start in an Arizona rookie league game in Mesa, Arizona. If he pitches and recovers without incident, Greinke would be on an 80-pitch limit in his next start. The Diamondbacks would decide if that start would be at the major- or minor-league level, manager Chip Hale said Friday. ... Socrates Brito (fractured fight toe) made another rehab start Friday night at Single-A Visalia.
Dodgers: Yasiel Puig (hamstring) was out of the Dodgers starting lineup for the seventh game in a row. The Dodgers are off again Monday, their third off day in eight days, which has allowed them to go with four starters and keep from deciding whether Puig should go on the disabled list. ... Adam Liberatore (sore right knee) was available after sitting out Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Diamondbacks: Braden Shipley (0-1, 10.13 ERA) makes his second career start. Rated the Diamondbacks' No. 1 prospect by MLB.com, Shipley gave up six runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in his debut against Milwaukee on Monday night.
Dodgers: LHP Scott Kazmir (9-3,4.35) looks for his eighth consecutive decision on Saturday against a team he has not faced since 2007 with Tampa Bay. Kazmir is the National League's only unbeaten starter since May 14, going 7-0 with a 3.73 ERA in 13 starts.
