Grit Index: Dodgers beat up on Kennedy, D-backs for second straight night

The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped their second straight game to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night, 6-1, as they continue to try and hold onto first place in the division. With the loss, Arizona is 47-43 and now just 2.5 games ahead of the visiting Dodgers.

Ian Kennedy made his first start against the Dodgers since the infamous brawl that took place at Dodger Stadium on June 11 and he was roughed up, although the D-backs shoddy defense didn’t help either.

Kennedy was lifted in the sixth inning after loading the bases with back-to-back walks to Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig. He was relieved by Tony Sipp, who proceeded to give up a two-run single to Adrian Gonzalez, giving Kennedy a final line of 5.2 innings pitched, six runs allowed, five earned, while walking three and striking out two. In all, Kennedy threw 109 pitches, 69 for strikes.

A lot was made before the game and before this series about whether or not Kennedy would shy away from throwing inside, considering his involvement in the violent episode exactly four weeks ago. He answered that quickly, when he hit Hanley Ramirez on the elbow with a first-inning fastball. Ramirez was just the fourth batter Kennedy faced Tuesday.

Ricky Nolasco made his Dodgers’ debut Tuesday and it was a good one. He threw 97 pitches in seven innings of work while allowing just four hits and one earned run, striking out five Arizona hitters.

The Diamondbacks offense recorded just five hits total, leaving five runners on base, while going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

They’ll play the series finale Wednesday with the D-backs trying to avoid the series sweep.

The Good:

Despite suffering mightily on offense the last two games, the D-backs have recorded an extra-base hit in 74 straight games. That’s tied for the fifth-longest streak in team history.

All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was 1-for-4 with a strikeout Tuesday and has hit safely in nine of his last ten games against the Dodgers.

The Bad:

Starter Ian Kennedy is winless in his last six starts, going 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA. During that time he’s allowed 24 earned runs in 33.1 innings pitched.

Noted:

The Diamondbacks had dominated the Dodgers, dating back to last season, going 12-6 in 2012, but they’ve struggled in this three-game series. After dropping the first two games on Monday and Tuesday, Arizona is 7-4 this season and 17-6 in their last 23 games versus their National League West rival.

He Said It:

“We scored one run last night and one tonight and if you’re going to score one run you have to play a lot better baseball. We kicked it around, threw it around. We didn’t swing the bats good, we were unable to make any adjustments. It was no secret what he was doing. Just couldn’t get it done and I think we got a little frustrated too. Things are going good for the Dodgers right now. We didn’t play well but we’ll be back tomorrow.” – D-backs manager Kirk Gibson

Up Next:

Lefty Tyler Skaggs will look to replicate his previous start, which came against the Rockies on July 5. Skaggs threw eight scoreless innings in the outing, giving up just three hits and striking out five while only walking one. He’s making his fifth start of 2013; the eleventh of his career.

Opposite Skaggs will be Dodgers’ lefty Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is 7-3 on the season with a 2.82 ERA. Ryu has made two previous starts against Arizona, posting a 1-0 record and allowing three runs in six innings in both starts.

First pitch on Wednesday is at 6:40 PM and you can listen on Arizona Sports 620 AM.

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