Clark, Young send Diamondbacks to easy win over Dodgers <h3>ARIZONA 12, LA DODGERS 3</h3>By Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Tony Clark and Chris Young homered inconsecutive innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to aconvincing 12-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. With the triumph, the Diamondbacks (87-67) increased their leadin the National League West to one game over San Diego (85-66),which were playing the Colorado Rockies. After the Dodgers tallied a run in each of the first threeinnings off Arizona starter Livan Hernandez (11-10) to jump outto a 3-1 lead, Arizona tied the contest at 3-3 when Clarkconnected in the third off Dodgers starter Esteban Loaiza (1-3)on a two-run shot over the fence in left. Following a two-out triple in the fourth by Augie Ojeda andsubsequent RBI single by Hernandez, Young belted his own two-runblast to left to hand the Diamondbacks a 6-3 advantage. Thehome run from Young was his 31st of the season, tying him withMilwaukee's Ryan Braun for the most homers by a rookie. After struggling in the first three frames, Hernandez settleddown and held Los Angeles scoreless - allowing just three hits -over his last three innings. The former World Series MVP, whohas won just two games in his last seven outings, tossed sixinnings, permitting three runs and 10 hits. Loaiza, who is now 0-4 lifetime against Arizona, lasted onlyfour innings, surrendering six runs and five hits to lose histhird consecutive start. Jeff Kent finished with three hits - including an RBI double -for the Dodgers, who tied a season high with their sixthstraight loss.
Clark, Young send Diamondbacks to easy win over Dodgers <h3>ARIZONA 12, LA DODGERS 3</h3>By Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer PHOENIX (Ticker) - Tony Clark and Chris Young homered inconsecutive innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to aconvincing 12-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. With the triumph, the Diamondbacks (87-67) increased their leadin the National League West Division to one game over San Diego(85-66), which were playing the Colorado Rockies. After the Dodgers tallied a run in each of the first threeinnings off Arizona starter Livan Hernandez (11-10) to jump outto a 3-1 lead, Arizona benefited from a defensive lapse from theDodgers. "If I had a quarter for every time someone asked me how we aredoing it, I wouldn't have to play next year," Clark said. Clark took advantage of a second chance during his at-bat when afoul ball dropped between third baseman Nomar Garciaparra andshortstop Tony Abreu. Three pitches later, the 35-year-oldslugger connected on a pitch from Esteban Loaiza (1-3),depositing it over the wall in left to tie the game at 3-3. "We got a break when Tony got a second chance. He made them payfor it, but the big hit of the game was Livan's single,"Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "Livan's hit was hugebecause it gives us the lead." "It is one of those situations (where) not having a big horse -but having a lot of guys all committed to the same task - helpus win ballgames," Clark said. "Tonight, I got a second chanceat the at-bat. Sometimes, you can take advantage of a secondchance like that, sometimes you can't." Following a two-out triple in the fourth by Augie Ojeda andsubsequent RBI single by Hernandez, Young belted his own two-runblast to left to hand the Diamondbacks a 6-3 advantage. Thehome run from Young was his 31st of the season, tying him withMilwaukee's Ryan Braun for the most homers by a rookie. After struggling in the first three frames, Hernandez settleddown and held Los Angeles scoreless - allowing just three hits -over his last three innings. The former World Series MVP, whohas won just two games in his last seven outings, tossed sixinnings, permitting three runs and 10 hits. "I was lucky because they scored those three runs early,"Hernandez said. "I didn't really do anything really differentafter the third inning except throw strikes." Loaiza, who is now 0-4 lifetime against Arizona, lasted onlyfour innings, surrendering six runs and five hits to lose histhird consecutive start. Jeff Kent finished with three hits - including an RBI double -for the Dodgers, who tied a season high with their sixthstraight loss. "It is obvious we let things get away from us about four or fivegames ago," Kent said. "We are one or two games away fromelimination with eight to play. We need several teams to loseabout six or seven in a row." The Dodgers had a team meeting after the game and did not makethe clubhouse available to reporters until 30 minutes later. "We have a lot of people who haven't been through this at thispoint of the season," Dodgers manager Grady little said. "It isnot a good thing. There is a lot of frustration, understandably,but like everything in life, you deal with it."
