Diamondbacks 6 - 8 Dodgers
Final
  for this game

Haren hopes to continue resurgence vs. D'backs

Apr 19, 2014 - 12:35 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Dan Haren hopes to continue his resurgence on Saturday when the Los Angeles Dodgers continue a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

Haren pitched to a career-worst 4.88 ERA last season and struggled through a 6.00 ERA in four starts this spring. However, in two starts this year he has resembled the pitcher who was once a three-time All-Star, going 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA.

His most recent win came on Sunday in Arizona, as he held the D'backs to three runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. He also struck out five and walked a batter in the win.

"I could tell from the start it was going to be a battle," Haren said after the game. "I was able to get through it. I don't know how. I face them again (Saturday) and I have to have better stuff than this."

Haren, who pitched two-plus seasons in Arizona, has only faced his former team four times (3 starts) and is 3-1 with a 3.32 ERA against them.

Arizona, meanwhile, will counter with rookie Mike Bolsinger, who will be making his first-ever start in place of the ineffective Trevor Cahill. Bolsinger appeared in relief for Arizona earlier in the week and gave up two runs in three innings to the New York Mets.

"It just seems the game gets faster here," Bolsinger said. "There's more going on. You've got to be aware of it and make sure you slow it down."

A 15th-round draft pick of the D'backs in 2010, Bolsinger went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA at Triple-A Reno.

Arizona got the best of the Dodgers in Friday's opener, as Aaron Hill's go- ahead two-run single in the top of the 12th inning lifted the Diamondbacks to a 4-2 win. Miguel Montero smacked a solo shot for the D-backs, who snapped a six-game skid.

"Gibby (Kirk Gibson) told me around the seventh or eighth inning that I was going to win the game for us, I didn't believe him, but he (Perez) left something up. It was a great win," Hill said.

Cahill fired a 1-2-3 12th to notch his first career save, while Joe Thatcher (1-0) tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win.

Zack Greinke, who has 16 consecutive starts with five-plus innings pitched and two-or-fewer runs allowed -- the longest such streak since 1914 --, surrendered a run on three hits and two walks while fanning eight over six innings in a no-decision.

Juan Uribe sent the game into extras with a game-tying solo homer in the ninth for LA, which has dropped three of its last four.

"We had plenty of chances to win. Zack threw the ball well, Juan kept us in it, we just didn't do enough to win the game," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said.

The Dodgers have won five of their six matchups with the Diamondbacks.






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