Dodgers 9 - 5 Diamondbacks
Final
  for this game

Dodgers-Diamondbacks Preview

Sep 12, 2015 - 6:41 AM With a sizable lead in the NL West, the Los Angeles Dodgers will simply move on from one of their more forgettable performances of the season.

They can successfully do so by avoiding a third straight loss Saturday night on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Los Angeles (80-60) won five straight and 13 of 15 before falling 3-2 to the Angels on Wednesday. The Dodgers, however, never had much of a chance to bounce back Friday after Arizona (68-73) scored 10 runs in the first two innings en route to a 12-4 victory.

Owners of a 7 1/2-game division lead over San Francisco, the Dodgers won't dwell on their worst defeat since falling 15-2 to the New York Mets on July 25.

"Chalk it up to just one of those nights," losing pitcher Alex Wood said.

Los Angeles had won nine of the previous 10 against the Diamondbacks, who got four hits and three RBIs from shortstop Nick Ahmed and a two-run homer from Paul Goldschmidt to win for the third time in four contests.

After Arizona tagged Wood for eight runs in 1 2-3 innings, former Diamondback Mike Bolsinger (6-3, 2.97 ERA) takes the mound in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City last week. The right-hander gave up three runs on two homers in five innings of an 8-4 win at San Diego last Friday.

Auditioning for a chance to be part of Los Angeles' possible postseason roster, Bolsinger is just happy to be back in the majors.

"Whatever they want me to do, I will do it,'' he said.

Bolsinger has been sharp in two starts againsT the Diamondbacks this season, going 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA and striking out 12 in 11 innings.

Goldschmidt is 0 for 4 with two strikeouts off Bolsinger, but is batting .400 with five home runs and 15 RBIs in 13 games against the Dodgers this season.

The light-hitting Ahmed is batting .435 with two homers, four doubles, two triples and six RBIs in seven games this month.

Rubby De La Rosa (12-7, 4.49) looks to turn things around after posting a 6.19 ERA while losing two of his last three starts. The right-hander has yielded four of his 29 home runs in those contests, including a solo shot and two other runs in five innings of Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

''Just a couple mistakes, try to work on it, try to move on,'' he said.

De La Rosa, who broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 2011, has looked even worse while giving up five home runs in going 0-2 with a 9.19 ERA in three starts against his former club this year.

Andre Ethier is 4 for 7 with a homer against him. Adrian Gonzalez, however, is 1 for 8 when facing De La Rosa.

Justin Ruggiano has never matched up with De La Rosa and is batting .171 against right-handers this season but could find his way into the lineup after hitting a grand slam Friday for his third home run his last four games.

He's 6 for 12 with 10 RBIs in his past five contests.

It's uncertain if Dodgers utility man Alex Guerrero will be available after straining a calf muscle Friday.






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