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Clark, Young send Diamondbacks to easy win over Dodgers

Sep 22, 2007 - 7:05 AM By Bob Huhn PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PHOENIX (Ticker) - Tony Clark and Chris Young homered in consecutive innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a convincing 12-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

With the triumph, the Diamondbacks (87-67) increased their lead in the National League West Division to one game over San Diego (85-66), which were playing the Colorado Rockies.

After the Dodgers tallied a run in each of the first three innings off Arizona starter Livan Hernandez (11-10) to jump out to a 3-1 lead, Arizona benefited from a defensive lapse from the Dodgers.

"If I had a quarter for every time someone asked me how we are doing it, I wouldn't have to play next year," Clark said.

Clark took advantage of a second chance during his at-bat when a foul ball dropped between third baseman Nomar Garciaparra and shortstop Tony Abreu. Three pitches later, the 35-year-old slugger connected on a pitch from Esteban Loaiza (1-3), depositing it over the wall in left to tie the game at 3-3.

"We got a break when Tony got a second chance. He made them pay for it, but the big hit of the game was Livan's single," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "Livan's hit was huge because it gives us the lead."

"It is one of those situations (where) not having a big horse - but having a lot of guys all committed to the same task - help us win ballgames," Clark said. "Tonight, I got a second chance at the at-bat. Sometimes, you can take advantage of a second chance like that, sometimes you can't."

Following a two-out triple in the fourth by Augie Ojeda and subsequent RBI single by Hernandez, Young belted his own two-run blast to left to hand the Diamondbacks a 6-3 advantage. The home run from Young was his 31st of the season, tying him with Milwaukee's Ryan Braun for the most homers by a rookie.

After struggling in the first three frames, Hernandez settled down and held Los Angeles scoreless - allowing just three hits - over his last three innings. The former World Series MVP, who has won just two games in his last seven outings, tossed six innings, permitting three runs and 10 hits.

"I was lucky because they scored those three runs early," Hernandez said. "I didn't really do anything really different after the third inning except throw strikes."

Loaiza, who is now 0-4 lifetime against Arizona, lasted only four innings, surrendering six runs and five hits to lose his third consecutive start.

Jeff Kent finished with three hits - including an RBI double - for the Dodgers, who tied a season high with their sixth straight loss.

"It is obvious we let things get away from us about four or five games ago," Kent said. "We are one or two games away from elimination with eight to play. We need several teams to lose about six or seven in a row."

The Dodgers had a team meeting after the game and did not make the clubhouse available to reporters until 30 minutes later.

"We have a lot of people who haven't been through this at this point of the season," Dodgers manager Grady little said. "It is not a good thing. There is a lot of frustration, understandably, but like everything in life, you deal with it."