The Dodgers' five-game winning streak came to an end Saturday night, as the Diamondbacks took home a 3-2 victory at Chase Field in Phoenix. Hiroki Kuroda allowed a three-run home run in the second inning, and not much else, but picked up his 11th loss of the season. The Dodgers have scored 18 runs in his last nine starts.
Matt Kemp hit a home run for the second straight night, this one a majestic shot high off the wall in center field in the second inning. That gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead, but that was quickly erased by Brandon Allen. The Diamondbacks' first baseman, making his first start of the season, hit a towering home run into the seats in right field to give Arizona a 3-1 lead.
The Dodgers pushed across a run on a bases loaded walk by Rafael Furcal in the fifth inning, but that was it. The final seven Dodgers were retired by Arizona pitchers. Kuroda himself settled down to retire 11 of the final 12 batters he faced, including the last nine. Scott Elbert pitched two innings in relief for the Dodgers, retiring all six batters, meaning the Dodgers set down the final 15 Arizona hitters, eight by strikeout.
Ian Kennedy pitched seven strong innings for his 10th win of the season. David Hernandez pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save for Arizona. Ted Lilly starts for the Dodgers on Sunday in the rubber game of the series, against Daniel Hudson.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.