GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: ARIZONA (83-65) at LA DODGERS (78-69)

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ARIZONA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 6 1
LA DODGERS 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 6 8 1 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: ARI - BRANDON MEDDERS
LOS - JONATHAN BROXTON (OUT)

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M REYNOLDS (.270, 1-FOR-3)
J SALAZAR (.279, 0-FOR-3)
C YOUNG (.236, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ARIZONA (2) VS LA DODGERS (6) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Bonifacio 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
a-A Callaspo ph-2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .211
S Drew ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .230
E Byrnes lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .292
T Clark 1b 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 .244
M Reynolds 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .270
J Salazar rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .279
C Young cf 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .236
M Montero c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .230
b-R Hammock ph-c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250
L Hernandez p 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .197
D Slaten p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Wickman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-J Cirillo ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .207
B Medders p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 30 2 6 2 1 6 12

a-doubled to deep center for E Bonifacio in the 8th; b-doubled to deep right
center for M Montero in the 8th; c-reached on error for B Wickman in the
8th.

BATTING: 2B - M Montero (7, D Lowe); R Hammock (2, J Beimel); A Callaspo (7, J
Beimel). HR - T Clark (15, 7th inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - T Clark
(46), A Callaspo (6). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Clark 2, L
Hernandez 1. GIDP - E Byrnes. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - B Wickman (3, throw).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 4 2 2 0 1 0 1 .272
J Pierre cf 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .291
J Loney 1b 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 .330
L Gonzalez lf 2 1 1 3 2 0 0 .279
M Kemp pr-rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
N Garciaparra 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 .282
R Martin c 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .292
A Ethier rf-lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
T Abreu 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .268
D Lowe p 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .107
J Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Broxton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250

Totals 32 6 8 5 5 4 11

a-struck out swinging for J Broxton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - T Abreu (13, B Medders). HR - L Gonzalez (14, 1st inning off L
Hernandez 2 on, 0 Out), A Ethier (12, 6th inning off L Hernandez 0 on, 1 Out).
RBI - J Loney (54), L Gonzalez 3 (64), A Ethier (61). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - N Garciaparra 1, R Furcal 1, R Martin 1, T Abreu 1. Team LOB
- 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Furcal 4 (25, 2nd base off D Slaten/M Montero, 2nd base
off L Hernandez/M Montero 2, 3rd base off D Slaten/M Montero).

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (10, ground ball). DP: 1 (R Furcal-T Abreu-J
Loney).


----------------------------------------------------
ARIZONA - 000 000 11 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 400 001 10 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
L Hernandez 6 6 5 5 3 3 2 4.86
D Slaten 1/3 1 1 0 2 0 0 2.36
B Wickman 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86
B Medders 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.72

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe 7 4 1 1 1 5 1 3.71
J Beimel 1/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.09
J Broxton 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.35

Pitches-strikes: L Hernandez 103-59; D Slaten 20-9; B Wickman 6-4; B Medders
12-10; D Lowe 74-44; J Beimel 10-7; J Broxton 7-4. Ground balls-fly balls: L
Hernandez 6-9; D Slaten 0-1; B Wickman 2-0; B Medders 1-1; D Lowe 11-5; J
Beimel 0-1; J Broxton 0-1. Batters faced: L Hernandez 27; D Slaten 4; B Wickman
2; B Medders 4; D Lowe 25; J Beimel 4; J Broxton 2.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

Weather: 81 degrees, sunny. Wind: 2 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - PITCHING CHANGE
LOS: SCOTT PROCTOR (3-0, 3.28) STARTING THE 9TH
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 2, LA DODGERS 6

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M REYNOLDS (.270, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL AT LA DODGERS - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Proctor relieved J Broxton.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: ARIZONA 2
LA DODGERS 6 TOP, 9TH

DUE UP FOR ARIZONA: M Reynolds (.270, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ARIZONA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 6 1
LA DODGERS 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 x 6 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: ARI - LIVAN HERNANDEZ, DOUG SLATEN (7TH), BOB WICKMAN (7TH), BRANDON
MEDDERS (8TH) AND MIGUEL MONTERO, ROBBY HAMMOCK (8TH)

LOS - DEREK LOWE, JOE BEIMEL (8TH), JONATHAN BROXTON
(8TH), SCOTT PROCTOR (9TH) AND RUSSELL MARTIN

HOME RUNS: ARI - TONY CLARK (15) OFF DEREK LOWE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

LOS - LUIS GONZALEZ (14) OFF LIVAN HERNANDEZ IN THE 1ST, 2 ON
ANDRE ETHIER (12) OFF LIVAN HERNANDEZ IN THE 6TH, 0 ON</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
ARIZONA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 6 1
LA DODGERS 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 x 6 8 1 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: ARI - LIVAN HERNANDEZ, DOUG SLATEN (7TH), BOB WICKMAN (7TH), BRANDON
MEDDERS (8TH) AND MIGUEL MONTERO, ROBBY HAMMOCK (8TH)

LOS - DEREK LOWE, JOE BEIMEL (8TH), JONATHAN BROXTON
(8TH), SCOTT PROCTOR (9TH) AND RUSSELL MARTIN


WP - DEREK LOWE (12-12)
LP - LIVAN HERNANDEZ (10-10)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: ARI - TONY CLARK (15) OFF DEREK LOWE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON

LOS - LUIS GONZALEZ (14) OFF LIVAN HERNANDEZ IN THE 1ST, 2 ON
ANDRE ETHIER (12) OFF LIVAN HERNANDEZ IN THE 6TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:39 ATT: 48,366

PROBABLES: ARI - EDGAR GONZALEZ (7-2, 4.76)
LOS - ESTEBAN LOAIZA (1-1, 7.84)</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">ARIZONA (2) VS LA DODGERS (6) - FINAL

ARIZONA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
E Bonifacio 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235
a-A Callaspo ph-2b 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .211
S Drew ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 2 .230
E Byrnes lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 3 .292
T Clark 1b 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 .244
M Reynolds 3b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .269
J Salazar rf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .275
C Young cf 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .236
M Montero c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .230
b-R Hammock ph-c 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .250
L Hernandez p 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .197
D Slaten p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
B Wickman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
c-J Cirillo ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .207
B Medders p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 33 2 6 2 1 8 12

a-doubled to deep center for E Bonifacio in the 8th; b-doubled to deep right
center for M Montero in the 8th; c-reached on error for B Wickman in the
8th.

BATTING: 2B - M Montero (7, D Lowe); R Hammock (2, J Beimel); A Callaspo (7, J
Beimel). HR - T Clark (15, 7th inning off D Lowe 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - T Clark
(46), A Callaspo (6). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Clark 2, L
Hernandez 1. GIDP - E Byrnes. Team LOB - 5.

FIELDING: E - B Wickman (3, throw).


LA DODGERS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Furcal ss 4 2 2 0 1 0 1 .272
J Pierre cf 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 .291
J Loney 1b 3 1 1 1 1 0 0 .330
L Gonzalez lf 2 1 1 3 2 0 0 .279
M Kemp pr-rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .337
N Garciaparra 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 2 .282
R Martin c 4 0 0 0 0 1 4 .292
A Ethier rf-lf 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 .289
T Abreu 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .268
D Lowe p 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .107
J Beimel p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Broxton p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
a-M Sweeney ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .250
S Proctor p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 32 6 8 5 5 4 11

a-struck out swinging for J Broxton in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - T Abreu (13, B Medders). HR - L Gonzalez (14, 1st inning off L
Hernandez 2 on, 0 Out), A Ethier (12, 6th inning off L Hernandez 0 on, 1 Out).
RBI - J Loney (54), L Gonzalez 3 (64), A Ethier (61). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - N Garciaparra 1, R Furcal 1, R Martin 1, T Abreu 1. Team LOB
- 7.

BASERUNNING: SB - R Furcal 4 (25, 2nd base off D Slaten/M Montero, 2nd base
off L Hernandez/M Montero 2, 3rd base off D Slaten/M Montero).

FIELDING: E - N Garciaparra (10, ground ball). DP: 1 (R Furcal-T Abreu-J
Loney).


----------------------------------------------------
ARIZONA - 000 000 110 -- 2
LA DODGERS - 400 001 10x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

ARIZONA ip h r er bb so hr era
L Hernandez (L, 10-10) 6 6 5 5 3 3 2 4.86
D Slaten 1/3 1 1 0 2 0 0 2.36
B Wickman 2/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.86
B Medders 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.72

LA DODGERS ip h r er bb so hr era
D Lowe (W, 12-12) 7 4 1 1 1 5 1 3.71
J Beimel 1/3 2 1 1 0 0 0 4.09
J Broxton (H, 31) 2/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 2.35
S Proctor 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3.16

Pitches-strikes: L Hernandez 103-59; D Slaten 20-9; B Wickman 6-4; B Medders
12-10; D Lowe 74-44; J Beimel 10-7; J Broxton 7-4; S Proctor 17-11. Ground
balls-fly balls: L Hernandez 6-9; D Slaten 0-1; B Wickman 2-0; B Medders 1-1; D
Lowe 11-5; J Beimel 0-1; J Broxton 0-1; S Proctor 0-1. Batters faced: L
Hernandez 27; D Slaten 4; B Wickman 2; B Medders 4; D Lowe 25; J Beimel 4; J
Broxton 2; S Proctor 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Brian Runge. 1B--Mike Winters. 2B--Bruce Froemming. 3B--Mark
Wegner.

T--2:39. Att--48,366.
Weather: 81 degrees, sunny. Wind: 2 mph, out to left.</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
ARIZONA 2
LA DODGERS 6 FINAL</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARIZONA (2) AT LA DODGERS (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal singled to right. R Furcal stole second. J Pierre
walked. J Loney singled to center, R Furcal scored, J Pierre to third.
L Gonzalez homered to right, J Pierre and J Loney scored. N Garciaparra singled
to center. R Martin popped out to third. A Ethier grounded out to first,
N Garciaparra to second. T Abreu fouled out to left. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 6TH: R Martin popped out to shortstop. A Ethier homered to
center. T Abreu flied out to right. D Lowe flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 5.

ARIZONA 7TH: T Clark homered to center. M Reynolds fouled out to catcher.
J Salazar flied out to left. C Young struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ARIZONA 1, LA DODGERS 5.

LA DODGERS 7TH: D Slaten relieved L Hernandez. R Furcal singled to center.
R Furcal stole second. J Pierre flied out to left. J Loney walked, R Furcal
stole third. L Gonzalez walked, J Loney to second. M Kemp ran for L Gonzalez.
B Wickman relieved D Slaten. N Garciaparra grounded into fielder's choice to
catcher, R Furcal scored, J Loney out at third, M Kemp to second, M Kemp to third
on throwing error by pitcher B Wickman. R Martin grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) ARIZONA 1, LA DODGERS 6.

ARIZONA 8TH: M Kemp in right field. A Ethier in left field. J Beimel
relieved D Lowe. R Hammock hit for M Montero. R Hammock doubled to deep right
center. J Cirillo hit for B Wickman. J Cirillo safe at first on error by third
baseman N Garciaparra. A Callaspo hit for E Bonifacio. A Callaspo doubled to
deep center, R Hammock scored, J Cirillo to third. S Drew fouled out to third.
J Broxton relieved J Beimel. E Byrnes fouled out to catcher. T Clark struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) ARIZONA 2, LA DODGERS 6.</div>

 

NL: ARIZONA at LA DODGERS

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ARIZONA (2) AT LA DODGERS (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arizona Starting Lineups -- E Bonifacio 2B, S Drew SS, E Byrnes LF, T Clark 1B,
M Reynolds 3B, J Salazar RF, C Young CF, M Montero C, L Hernandez RHP.

La Dodgers Starting Lineups -- R Furcal SS, J Pierre CF, J Loney 1B, L Gonzalez LF,
N Garciaparra 3B, R Martin C, A Ethier RF, T Abreu 2B, D Lowe RHP.

Umpires -- Brian Runge (HP), Mike Winters (1B), Bruce Froemming (2B), Mark Wegner (3B).

Gametime Weather: 81 degrees, Sunny, wind out to left at 2 mph.


ARIZONA 1ST: E Bonifacio struck out swinging. S Drew flied out to center.
E Byrnes struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 0.

LA DODGERS 1ST: R Furcal singled to right. R Furcal stole second. J Pierre
walked. J Loney singled to center, R Furcal scored, J Pierre to third.
L Gonzalez homered to right, J Pierre and J Loney scored. N Garciaparra singled
to center. R Martin popped out to third. A Ethier grounded out to first,
N Garciaparra to second. T Abreu fouled out to left. (4 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors)
ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

ARIZONA 2ND: T Clark grounded out to shortstop. M Reynolds singled to
center. J Salazar flied out to left. C Young struck out swinging. (0 Runs,
1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 2ND: D Lowe struck out swinging. R Furcal grounded out to
pitcher. J Pierre grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0,
LA DODGERS 4.

ARIZONA 3RD: M Montero grounded out to first. L Hernandez grounded out to
third. E Bonifacio grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0,
LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 3RD: J Loney flied out to right. L Gonzalez grounded out to
shortstop. N Garciaparra singled to center. R Martin struck out swinging.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

ARIZONA 4TH: S Drew struck out looking. E Byrnes grounded out to
shortstop. T Clark walked. M Reynolds popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 4TH: A Ethier flied out to left. T Abreu grounded out to first.
D Lowe grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

ARIZONA 5TH: J Salazar grounded out to second. C Young bunt grounded out
to catcher. M Montero doubled to deep right center. L Hernandez grounded out
to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 5TH: R Furcal walked. R Furcal stole second. J Pierre popped
out to second. J Loney flied out to center, R Furcal to third. L Gonzalez
walked. N Garciaparra struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0,
LA DODGERS 4.

ARIZONA 6TH: E Bonifacio bunt grounded out to pitcher. S Drew singled to
right. E Byrnes grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first,
S Drew out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 4.

LA DODGERS 6TH: R Martin popped out to shortstop. A Ethier homered to
center. T Abreu flied out to right. D Lowe flied out to left. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ARIZONA 0, LA DODGERS 5.

ARIZONA 7TH: T Clark homered to center. M Reynolds fouled out to catcher.
J Salazar flied out to left. C Young struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) ARIZONA 1, LA DODGERS 5.

LA DODGERS 7TH: D Slaten relieved L Hernandez. R Furcal singled to center.
R Furcal stole second. J Pierre flied out to left. J Loney walked, R Furcal
stole third. L Gonzalez walked, J Loney to second. M Kemp ran for L Gonzalez.
B Wickman relieved D Slaten. N Garciaparra grounded into fielder's choice to
catcher, R Furcal scored, J Loney out at third, M Kemp to second, M Kemp to third
on throwing error by pitcher B Wickman. R Martin grounded out to pitcher. (1 Run,
1 Hit, 1 Error) ARIZONA 1, LA DODGERS 6.

ARIZONA 8TH: M Kemp in right field. A Ethier in left field. J Beimel
relieved D Lowe. R Hammock hit for M Montero. R Hammock doubled to deep right
center. J Cirillo hit for B Wickman. J Cirillo safe at first on error by third
baseman N Garciaparra. A Callaspo hit for E Bonifacio. A Callaspo doubled to
deep center, R Hammock scored, J Cirillo to third. S Drew fouled out to third.
J Broxton relieved J Beimel. E Byrnes fouled out to catcher. T Clark struck
out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) ARIZONA 2, LA DODGERS 6.

LA DODGERS 8TH: A Callaspo at second base. R Hammock catching. B Medders
relieved B Wickman. A Ethier lined out to right. T Abreu doubled to center.
M Sweeney hit for J Broxton. M Sweeney struck out swinging. R Furcal grounded
out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, LA DODGERS 6.

ARIZONA 9TH: S Proctor relieved J Broxton. M Reynolds struck out swinging.
J Salazar struck out swinging. C Young flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) ARIZONA 2, LA DODGERS 6.</div>

 

Lowe continues special weekend with win over Diamondbacks

<h3>LA DODGERS 6, ARIZONA 2</h3>LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- One day after Derek Lowe was honored asthe team's winner of the Roberto Clemente Award for his work inthe community and on the field, he gave the Los Angeles Dodgershis finest performance in a month.


Lowe tossed seven solid innings and Luis Gonzalez homered,leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-2 victory over theArizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.


With their second straight win over the National LeagueWest-leading Diamondbacks in this three-game series, Los Angeles(79-69) moved to within 3 1/2 games of Arizona (83-66). TheDodgers also closed to within a game of NL wild card leader SanDiego (79-67), which faces San Francisco later this evening.

Lowe (12-12), who would be the first Dodger to win the ClementeAward since Steve Garvey in 1981, went 2-1 despite a 6.18 ERAover his last starts. Saturday's gem was his best outing sincepitching seven scoreless innings against Houston on August 16.

The sinkerballer had little trouble handling the Arizona lineup,facing no more than four Diamondback hitters in any inning,yielding only one run and four hits with five strikeouts to gethis fourth win in his last five decisions. In his 12 wins thisseason, Lowe has allowed just 22 earned runs.


Gonzalez capped a three-run first off Arizona starter LivanHernandez (10-10), following James Loney's RBI single with athree-run blast to stake the Dodgers to a 4-0 advantage. The40-year-old, who spent eight seasons with Arizona before signingwith Los Angeles in the offseason, is hitting .325 in Dodgerswins with 10 homers. He has hit just .228 in losses.

Rafael Furcal stole four bases and scored twice for the Dodgers,who improved to 9-5 over the NL West leaders this season. Thelast Dodger to have at least four stolen bases in one game wasDavey Lopes, who had five steals against the Cardinals on August24, 1974.


Tony Clark hit a solo homer for the lone run for Arizona, whichis guaranteed to lose just its fifth series in 19 tries sincethe All-Star break.

 

Lowe continues special weekend with win over Diamondbacks

<h3>LA DODGERS 6, ARIZONA 2</h3>LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- One day after Derek Lowe was honored asthe team's winner of the Roberto Clemente Award for his work inthe community and on the field, he gave the Los Angeles Dodgershis finest performance in a month.


Lowe tossed seven solid innings and Luis Gonzalez homeredagainst his former team, leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to a6-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

With their second straight win over the National LeagueWest-leading Diamondbacks in this three-game series, Los Angeles(79-69) moved to within 3 1/2 games of Arizona (83-66). TheDodgers also closed to within a game of NL wild-card leader SanDiego (79-67), which faces San Francisco later this evening.

"Most guys know the task at hand and we just want to play welland get wins this time of the season," Gonzalez said.

Lowe (12-12), who would be the first Dodger to win the ClementeAward since Steve Garvey in 1981, went 2-1 despite a 6.18 ERAover his last starts. Saturday's gem was his best outing sincepitching seven scoreless innings against Houston on August 16.

"I needed this to get my confidence back," Lowe said. "We gotan early lead and I held on to it as long as I could; it was agood win.


"Making quality pitches early in the count is always good forsuccess. I threw strikes and mixed in off-speed pitches to usetheir aggression to benefit us."


The sinkerballer had little trouble handling the Arizona lineup,facing no more than four Diamondback hitters in any inning,yielding only one run and four hits with five strikeouts to gethis fourth win in his last five decisions. In his 12 wins thisseason, Lowe has allowed just 22 earned runs.


"Lowe was good from the first pitch on, we got runs early withGonzalez's big blast that gave Lowe some comfort," Little said."(Lowe) kept the ball down all day,


Gonzalez capped a three-run first off Arizona starter LivanHernandez (10-10), following James Loney's RBI single with athree-run blast to stake the Dodgers to a 4-0 advantage. The40-year-old, who spent eight seasons with Arizona before signingwith Los Angeles in the offseason, is hitting .325 in Dodgerswins with 10 homers. He has hit just .228 in losses.

"Getting runs early for (Lowe) made everyone settle down a bit,"Gonzalez said. "I got a lot of friends over there. Themanager (Bob Melvin) is one of my favorites (and they have)great coaches, but once the first series against them was over,some of the newness of playing them was over, too."

Rafael Furcal stole four bases and scored twice for the Dodgers,who improved to 9-5 over the NL West leaders this season. Thelast Dodger to have at least four stolen bases in one game wasDavey Lopes, who had five steals against the Cardinals on August24, 1974.


"He makes things happen offensively and is always consistentwith his fielding," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "He's aforce once he gets on base; good things always happen."

Tony Clark hit a solo homer for the lone run for Arizona, whichis guaranteed to lose just its fifth series in 19 tries sincethe All-Star break.