Arizona Diamondbacks Creep Toward Division Leaders After Win Over Los Angeles Dodgers

By Matthew Hendley Tue., Jul. 31 2012 at 7:44 AM

Categories: Sports

We're not that far removed from the All Star Game, but with the Arizona Diamondbacks beating the Los Angeles Dodgers last night -- and the San Francisco Giants losing as well -- the National League West is about to have a good old-fashioned pennant race.

The Diamondbacks are now 3 1/2 games behind the division-leading Giants and Dodgers, after beating the Dodgers 7-2 last night in Los Angeles.

Four of those D-backs runs can be attributed to the new guy -- third baseman Chris Johnson, whom the D-backs just picked up in a trade with the Houston Astros.

With a three-run lead in the fifth -- Paul Goldschmidt bombed a three-run homer in the first -- the Diamondbacks loaded up the bases.

Aaron Hill walked, Jason Kubel doubled, and after recording two outs, Dodgers starter Aaron Harang intentionally walked Miguel Montero to load the bases and face Johnson.

Bad idea -- Johnson lifted one well over the fence in left, recording a grand slam in his first game as a Diamondback.

D-backs starter Trevor Cahill left the Dodgers scoreless for 5 1/3 innings, until Matt Kemp scored a run on a fielder's choice.

D-backs reliever Takashi Saito gave up the only other run -- his first earned run as a Diamondback -- off a Kemp double in the eighth inning.

Craig Breslow handled the last inning of work for the Diamondbacks, finishing off the last three Dodgers hitters with ease -- a ground out and two strikeouts.

That was the first of three games against the Dodgers, as rookie Wade Miley faces off against the Dodgers' Chris Capuano at 7:10 p.m. today for game two.

Since we're going to start scoreboard-watching, Tim Lincecum starts for the Giants tomorrow, in the second of four games against the New York Mets, who are sending rookie Matt Harvey to the mound.