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Snyder homers, helps Diamondbacks avoid sweep

Sep 17, 2007 - 12:55 AM By Chris Padula PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Chris Snyder hit a three-run home run in the second inning, powering the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

With the win, the Diamondbacks (84-66) still have a two-game edge over the San Diego Padres in the National League West. The setback pushes the Dodgers (79-70) two games back of the Padres (81-67) in the NL wild card standings.

"This was a game we needed to win and we got it," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "We know that the Padres and Dodgers are right behind us but we just have to keep focusing on one game at a time."

Snyder put the Diamondbacks in the lead, 3-0, in the third when he belted a pitch from Esteban Loaiza (1-2) over the left field fence to plate Mark Reynolds and Stephen Drew, who reached on two of the seven free passes handed out by the Dodger righthander.

"I saw that he (Loaiza) was having trouble with his control, so I was just looking for a pitch that I could hit," Snyder said. "I just wanted to hit it hard and find a hole, but I got enough on it for a home run."

Snyder finished with two of the four hits for the Diamondbacks, who improved to a NL-best 37-23 since the All-Star break.

"We didn't win the series, but we are still playing good baseball lately," Snyder said. "(I) just hope we can keep playing good to finish off the season."

The early run support was more than enough for Edgar Gonzalez (7-2), who won his seventh straight decision. He yielded just one run and six hits over five frames.

"He (Gonzalez) pitched a good game," Snyder said. "He was around the zone and went right after their guys by working ahead in the count."

Being shuttled between the bullpen and rotation all season long, the righthander has not lost since April 21.

"Edgar has been a good option for us when we put him in there to start," Melvin said.

Loaiza allowed three runs and only one hit in taking his second straight loss.

"I just couldn't find my command all game," Loaiza said. "It's embarrassing and I need to work on some of my mechanics and turn it around fast."

Rafael Furcal homered for the Dodgers, who saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

"We played good this series, and we put ourselves in a good position after winning our last two series," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "We have a day off, which will be good and then just go out and get ready to play Colorado."