Even when the Dodgers put two runners on base Friday, as they did with one out Thursday, the game never seemed out of rhythm. Putz got a fly out and a popout to save a 2-0 lead victory in the first game of the series, and hegot A.J. Ellis on a weak fly with runners on first and third and two outs Friday. He has 28 saves and has not been scored on since June 19.
"It is a lot of fun to compete in those situations. But I wish it would have been a 1-2-3 inning," Putz said.
Kubel, who has carried the D-backs' offense with second baseman Aaron Hill and catcher Miguel Montero much of the season, turned on a cut fastball on the inside part of the plate from former Minnesota teammate Matt Guerrier to break the tie in the 11th. Kubel was given a day off Thursday but was back in his normal No. 3 spot in the order against Aaron Harang.
"Against a good team, a team that's in front of us, a team we need to beat, so it's pretty special, yeah," Kubel said. "They'd been throwing me inside all game and I guess finally decided to get the head out on one. I'm just happy I got it pretty good."
Bergesen was the latest member of the bullpen to step up. The D-backs have relied on their pitching to keep them in games recently – they had 27 runs on the 10-game homestand and have 33 runs in their last 12 gamessince beating up on Houston in mid-August.
Luis Cruz's two-out single in the 11th off Putz was the Dodgers' only hit in the bullpen's 5 1/3 innings in back of Trevor Cahill. Bergesen walked two and got newcomer Adrian Gonzalez on a routine fly ball to left field with a runner on first to end the 10th.
"Especially with the way we finished up at home, we knew we needed to get in here and turn it around. I just tried to relax in that situation. A situation like that, you always have a little extra adrenaline going, so you don't want to work too fast," Bergesen said.
The D-backs seem to have found their pace.
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