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Dunn, Drew help Diamondbacks pound Dodgers

Aug 30, 2008 - 6:28 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks are beginning to assert themselves atop the National League West.

Adam Dunn and Stephen Drew each drove in two runs as the Diamondbacks used a pair of rallies to top the Los Angeles Dodgers, 9-3, on Friday.

After a week where it looked like neither the Dodgers nor Arizona would step up in the West, the Diamondbacks snapped a three-game losing streak with a strong showing against their closest rivals.

"It is always nice to get another game but we have to play better," said Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, who was ejected for arguing a fan interference call in the fifth inning. "If we played better in the San Diego series, we would be looking at a couple more games. It is nice to get the first game of the series, but we still have two left and we need to get at least one more of these."

Arizona (69-65) overcame a one-run deficit with a three-run fifth and put the game away with a four-run seventh to open up a 4 1/2-game advantage over the Dodgers (65-70).

"It is good to know that we are going to be in first place, no matter what happens. And with (Dan) Haren and (Brandon) Webb going in the next few days we have a chance of being up six pretty easy," said Doug Davis (6-8), who allowed two runs in five innings for his sixth win of the season. "Tonight I was able to make my pitches and get the key out, but you have to give credit to the guys who scored three after I gave up a couple. They picked me up today."

Los Angeles has dropped eight straight and is 0-8 on its current 10-game road trip.

"Right now it is not even matter of who we play, although we understand who we are playing and what the importance is. We are struggling," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "We need to really find a way to get this stuff straightened out. There is still plenty of time left. Right now the last couple of weeks have been ugly and that has to change."

The Diamondbacks snapped a scoreless tie in the fourth when Dunn's RBI double pushed Chris Young across the plate.

After the Dodgers responded with two runs in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp and an RBI single by James Loney to take the lead, Arizona came back out in their half and took the lead right back.

Chad Tracy led off with a single and Chris Snyder walked before Augie Ojeda hit a groundball to shortstop. Nomar Garciaparra fielded the ball and tried to start the double play at second base but launched the ball into right field, allowing Tracy to score the tying run.

Pinch hitter Jeff Salazar followed with an RBI single and Drew capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to give the Diamondbacks a 4-2 lead.

"Once you have someone down, I have always been raised, don't let your foot off them and keep grinding," Salazar said. "I live for these kind of moments. These are my favorites and this is the best time of the year. Every at-bat means something, and for me, it is even more rewarding knowing that you only have one chance and one at-bat."

Los Angeles got a run back in the seventh, but Arizona responded again in its half, pushing four more runs across to put the game away. Drew started the rally with an RBI single and Garciaparra made another error to allow the second run of the inning to cross before Dunn and Mark Reynolds each plated a run with hits.

Manny Ramirez finished 4-for-4 for the Dodgers, who have not scored more than four runs in any of their last 11 games.

Adding injury to insult, Los Angeles second baseman Jeff Kent left in the sixth inning with left knee pain.

"I had a couple of days off previously because of (the knee), but it got too painful today," Kent said. "I have been trying to avoid it the best I could, try to play through the pain. But where I couldn't tonight, I am worried about it now."