Dodgers Score Five In 10th Inning, Lose To Diamondbacks

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Ryan Roberts clubbed a grand slam in the home half of the 10th frame, capping a six-run, two-out rally, as the Diamondbacks stayed alive for the second seed in the National League playoffs with a 7-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Brewers, who beat Pittsburgh earlier on Tuesday, appeared to be in position to claim the second seed going into the season's last day after the Dodgers scored five runs in the top of the frame, but the Diamondbacks strung together two singles, a walk, a batter that reached on an error, and another walk before Roberts' homer.

"That was unbelievable, I've never been a part of something like that, everything on this team blows my mind," Roberts said. "All year long we've gotten comeback wins and crazy things. That just goes down in the books as another one for me."

Arizona, which remained a game behind the Brewers, holds the season-series tiebreaker in case the teams finish with identical records.

Arizona looked left for dead with two outs in the home half of the 10th, but Cole Gillespie singled in front of Miguel Montero's base hit. Chris Young walked to load the bases, and pinch-hitter John McDonald reached on Aaron Miles' error, allowing one run to score for a 6-2 game. Javy Guerra (2-2) entered for Blake Hawksworth and promptly walked Aaron Hill to force in Montero and bring the winning run to the plate. Roberts wasted no time, lining a hanging slider into the left-field seats for his first career grand slam.

As Roberts rounded first base, he brought his arm back and forth in a motion reminiscent of his manager Kirk Gibson's iconic pinch-hit home run on one leg during the 1988 World Series against Oakland.

"Some things rub off, he deserved to do it," Gibson said.

Dee Gordon and Jamey Carroll each had three hits and Matt Kemp finished with a pair of hits for the Dodgers.

Lyle Overbay finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and Young scored twice for the Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks gave rookie Jarrod Parker his first big-league start on a big stage, and he lived up to the task, giving up just four hits with one walk and one strikeout over 5 2/3 scoreless frames. His counterpart, veteran Hiroki Kuroda, hurled six scoreless frames with five strikeouts and five hits allowed.

"He has been good for our team," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said of Kuroda, who will become a free agent this winter. "He has been good for different guys' development over the last few years, the way he works and goes about his business. His work habits and the way he goes about his business is a chance for our guys to learn from."

The Dodgers opened the floodgates in the 10th, tattooing Micah Owings (8-0) and putting up a crooked number. Gordon doubled to right then his speed caused issues on Jerry Sands' bunt attempt, as Owings turned and fired wildly to third, allowing the runner to score as Sands took second. He then trotted home on Kemp's single to center. Another run crossed the plate as Kemp scored on James Loney's single to right, and the big hit then came after Miles worked a walk. A.J. Ellis hit a high fly ball that bounced off the right-field wall and hit Justin Upton in the head, caroming to the right for a two-run triple and a 6-1 game. Upton, who was hit in the helmet by San Francisco's Tim Lincecum on Sunday and suffered a concussion, was pulled from the game but appeared fine.

The two teams played to a stalemate until the seventh when the Dodgers got on the scoreboard first. Rod Barajas singled and moved to second when Carroll walked with one out. Pinch-runner Eugenio Velez scored on Gordon's two-out single.

The Diamondbacks answered in the home half as Young worked a leadoff walk and scored when Overbay's line shot to center sailed over Kemp's glove and rolled to the base of the wall.

Arizona threatened to go in front in the eighth, as Gerardo Parra walked with one out and moved to second on Upton's single that found a hole between third base and shortstop. Kenley Jansen, however, bared down, striking out Montero and Young to end the threat.

The Diamondbacks brought in closer J.J. Putz in the ninth, but even he had some nervous moments. A pair of two-out singles from Ellis and Carroll put two runners on before pinch-hitter Trent Oeltjen struck out.

Game Notes

The Dodgers fell to 3-2 on their six-game road trip....Kemp is closing in on becoming the first Dodger since Dolph Camilli in 1941 lead the National League in both homers (38) and RBI (124). He increased his hitting streak to 11 games...Sands' 14-game hitting streak came to an end...Roberts hit his 19th home run of the season.

For all things Dodgers, like a fond remembrance of Kuroda's four years (and counting?) in Los Angeles, be sure to read True Blue LA.