The Arizona Diamondbacks offense came to life and Trevor Cahill pitched six strong innings, allowing only one run. But the bullpen allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers to tie the score in the seventh inning, giving up five runs. But despite a go-ahead homer from Lyle Overbay, who had four hits on the night, J.J. Putz gave up a two-run double to Ivan De Jesus in the ninth to blow the save and the Dodgers came away with an 8-7 win.
Cahill played with fire to start the game. He allowed the leadoff hitter to reach each of the first three innings, but two double plays and two baserunners thrown out attempting to steal by Henry Blanco erased the threat.
Newly called up third baseman Josh Bell introduced himself to the Diamondbacks fans in the bottom of the second with a two-run homer to centerfield that writer Nick Piecoro described as having traveled 5000 feet.
Justin Upton, who has had his issues hitting with runners in scoring position, came through in the third. After a leadoff double by Ryan Roberts, Upton singled to rightfield to make the score 3-0. With Roberts on second in the first inning with one out, Upton struck out looking, so the RBI was good to see.
Upton followed up that with a third RBI opportunity in the fifth. Willie Bloomquist doubled to start it off and Ryan Roberts sacrificed him to third. Instead of small ball, Upton instead doubled to left to chase Dodgers starter Aaron harang to give Arizona a 4-0 lead. After a wild pitch that sent Upton to third, Jason Kubel drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
Cahill allowed a run in the sixth inning, as the first two batters reached on hits, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an Andre Ethier sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the inning, Lyle Overbay hit a double to start things off. It was his third hit of the night. After a Josh Bell strikeout, Henry Blanco doubled him home to make it 6-1.
After Cahill left the ballgame, the Arizona bullpen made things interesting. Brad Ziegler gave up a hit, had a throwing error and then a double to make the score 6-2. Craig Breslow relieved him and gave up a hit to Tony Gwynn that scored two more to bring LA within two runs. Elian Herrera reached on a Josh Bell error and then Bobby Abreu singled home Gwynn.
Brian Shaw relieved Breslow and gave up a sacrifice fly to tie the score, but got James Loney to ground into a double play to end the inning.
After Overbay gave the D-backs the lead in the eighth with an eighth inning home run, closer J.J. Putz was asked to close the game. he was unable to. With one out, Elian Herrera and Bobby Abreu walked. Putz struck out LA's biggest bat in Andre Ethier, but De Jesus doubled over Chris Young's head to drive in both runners. It was Putz' third blown save and loss (0-3) of the season.
Overbay had four hits (including a double and a homer), scored three runs and drove in one. Fellow old guy Henry Blanco also had three hits and an RBI in a losing effort.
Josh Lindblom (2-0), who gave up the homer to Overbay, ended up with the win. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for his sixth save of the season.
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