D-backs unable to sweep the Dodgers for fourth consecutive time

Apr 15, 2018, 4:19 PM | Updated: 5:34 pm

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Sports

A pristine seven-pitch, seven-strike first inning left the Diamondbacks anticipating another dominant Zack Godley outing.

After all, he held the Dodgers to one run in seven innings on April 3 and led the NL in ERA (0.64) coming into Sunday’s game.

In that first matchup, Godley’s pitch movement caught L.A. off-guard. However, the Dodgers caught up to his steady stream of low-and-away pitches Sunday, managing to avoid swinging at curves and sinkers out of the zone.

In the third inning, Godley walked a pair and then allowed a grounder to bounce off his glove. The Dodgers stayed patient, getting two hits and coaxing two more walks before Arizona could get out of the inning.

By that time, Godley had walked six and the Dodgers led 4-0.

With Clayton Kershaw on the mound, that’s all L.A. needed.

The Dodgers won 7-2, avoiding their fourth consecutive sweep to the D-backs.

This was Arizona’s first loss to a left-handed starter since Sept. 26, 2017. In that span, they were 9-0 and opposing lefties threw a 9.30 ERA in 39.2 innings.

Last time the D-backs faced Kershaw, it was the first time two different lefties homered against him in one game.

None of that happened Sunday. The closest was Paul Goldschmidt, who hit a home run in the seventh inning to break up a 7-0 shutout.

It was one of only two D-backs hits off Kershaw of the day.

After a slow start to the season, Goldschmidt is finally starting to come around. He has hit four home runs in his last five games, a span in which his batting average has increased from .158 to .235.

The only other player with any sort of success against Kershaw on Sunday was David Peralta.

He reached on error in his first at-bat and then laced a two-out double to center before striking out in his final at-bat against Kershaw.

Peralta came into the game hitting only .211 against lefties, but he has been productive against Kershaw. He was 0-5 against the southpaw in his career coming into this season.

This year, he’s 3-6 with a home run and a double.

Nobody else could touch Kershaw, who threw seven innings of two-hit ball and struck out 12.

Though the D-backs’ 11-game regular season win streak over the Dodgers has come to an end, they are yet to lose a series this season. Their 11-4 record was tied for second-best in the National League as of Sunday night.

Arizona will return home to face the Giants on Tuesday.

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, center, is congratulated by A.J. Pollock, left, after hitting a solo home run as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes stands at the plate during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. Players wore No. 42 jerseys to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig, right, scores on a sacrifice fly hit by Enrique Hernandez as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis, left, awaits a late throw during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed can't handle a ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig during the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. Puig made it to first on the play and Ahmed was charged with an error. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig stands on first while wearing the number 42 under his eyes to commemorate Jackie Robinson day during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta gestures after hitting a double during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig stands on first while wearing the number 42 on his socks to commemorate Jackie Robinson day during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley, right, cannot handle a ball hit for a single by Los Angeles Dodgers' Cody Bellinger as Matt Kemp, left, advances to second during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Chris Taylor, right, hits a solo home run as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Jeff Mathis, left, watches along with home plate umpire Hal Gibson during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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