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Bauer tries for better home effort against Dodgers

Jul 8, 2012 - 12:51 PM (Sports Network) - Top Arizona prospect Trevor Bauer will hope that his second career start at home goes better than his first as he takes the hill this afternoon for the conclusion of a four-game set with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 21-year-old Bauer made his major league debut on June 28 in Atlanta and gave up two runs over four innings of a no-decision. He then took the Chase Field mound for the first time as a big leaguer on Tuesday and got off to a great start by striking out the side in the first.

However, when all was said and done, the right-hander had been charged with seven runs -- six earned -- on six hits and four walks in 3 1/3 frames of a loss.

That left Bauer with a 9.82 earned run average through his first two outings.

"He didn't make good pitches," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of Bauer. "We know he has great stuff but we are going to try and refine some things so he can have more success the next time out."

The Dodgers start a hurler in Chris Capuano, who has certainly refined his game since undergoing two separate Tommy John surgeries. The first-year Dodger is 9-3 with a 2.62 ERA in 17 starts, but was one of the more notable All-Star snubs.

In his first outing since missing out on being named to the National League team, the 33-year-old southpaw held the Reds to one run over six innings of a no-decision. He worked around six hits and three walks, giving forth an effort that allowed his team to log an eventual 3-1 win.

Capuano's comeback season already includes a win over the Diamondbacks on May 21. He threw six innings of one-run ball and struck out six in Arizona, improving to 2-4 with a 3.77 ERA lifetime against the club.

The Diamondbacks have picked up consecutive wins since dropping Thursday's opener, a loss that extended their losing streak at the time to a season-high six straight.

Jason Kubel homered and Gerardo Parra hit a two-run double in the win, while Stephen Drew and Paul Goldschmidt added sacrifice flies.

Trevor Cahill got the decision, allowing three runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out six and walked one.

"It was big for (Cahill) to get through seven innings for us tonight," said Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. "Seven innings just makes [Sunday's] game much better as well."

Chad Billingsley recorded his 1,000th career strikeout but dropped his fifth consecutive start. He gave up four runs on six hits over six frames and fanned five.

Jerry Hairston hit a two-run homer in the first inning and A.J. Ellis added a solo shot in the seventh for the Dodgers, who had won four of five prior to the consecutive setbacks.

"They got three in a row there and then they just executed after that," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "Two sac flies ended up being the difference in the game."

The Dodgers and Diamondbacks have now split eight meetings this season.