D-backs End Losing Streak, Win 5-3

The Arizona Diamondbacks (40-43) were finally able to put together an offensive strike with a quality pitching performance to end their six game losing streak, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38) 5-3 on Friday night.

The Dodgers got on the board first in the top of the third inning when Bobby Abreu doubled to deep left-center field, scoring Tony Gwynn, and putting the visitors up 1-0. They would add another run in the top of the next inning when Adam Kennedy hit a solo home run to right field.

The score would remain the same, with neither team able to put together an offensive rally as Josh Collmenter and Clayton Kershaw both providing strong starting performances.

The D-backs were able to change this in the bottom of the sixth inning when they exploded for five runs. Aaron Hill led things off by singling to right-center field, scoring Henry Blanco, and cutting the score to 2-1. With Willie Bloomquist on second and Hill on first, Justin Upton drove in two runs on his first triple of the season, putting the snakes up 3-2. Jason Kubel would drive in Upton in the very next at bat with an RBI double. Kubel would score on a wild pitch by Dodger reliever Jamey Wright, putting the D-backs up 5-2.

The top half of the next inning provided a lot of drama, as Bryan Shaw would come into the game in an attempt to keep the lead at 5-2. He would allow a leadoff walk, followed by three singles, allowing a run and leaving the bases loaded with no outs. Mike Zagurski would come in and strike out his first opponent, Jerry Hairston, leaving the bases loaded with one out. He would then get the next batter to fly out to left field, with Kubel firing a strike to Henry Blanco at home, gunning out Mark Ellis attempting to score, and ending the top of the inning.

Juan Rivera would add a run in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI single to center field, but that wouldn’t be enough, as the Arizona bullpen came in and pitched three strong innings of relief, with JJ Putz collecting his 15th save of the season.

D-backs fans everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief, as the team’s season-high losing streak is over at six games. In those six games, the team was very inconsistent, giving up a lot of runs without able to put together offensively. Fortunately for the D-backs, the All-Star break comes at the most opportune time of the season next week, allowing the team to rest up, clear their minds and get ready for the second half of the season.

Trevor Cahill will take the mound for the D-backs tomorrow evening against the Dodgers.