PHOENIX -- The Los Angeles Dodgers have been swept in a series for the first time this season, and former teammate Zack Greinke was a big reason why.
That and a parade of Arizona hits against another struggling Dodgers starter.
Greinke earned his major-league-best 16th victory with six strong innings as the Diamondbacks wrapped up the three-game sweep with a dominant 8-1 victory on Thursday.
Chris Iannetta and A.J. Pollock homered for the D-backs, who matched their season-best seventh straight victory and pulled 3½ games ahead of idle Colorado for the National League's top wild-card spot.
The Dodgers, still possessing by far the best record in the majors (91-41), have lost a season-worst five games in a row.
"Teams are going out and looking to play their best baseball against us, and the clip that we were on for a few months, obviously we were in rare company," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Did I foresee us losing five in a row? No. But I know we'll turn it around."
Greinke (16-6) allowed a run and four hits, striking out six and walking two, to improve to 13-1 in 16 home starts this season.
"It was just a great game," he said. "Got a lot of runs. Amazing plays defensively. Couldn't have got much better than that in that regard. ... Played flawlessly this whole series."
The Dodgers' Kenta Maeda (12-6) had arguably his worst outing of the year. The right-hander went just three innings and gave up seven runs and eight hits. It was his shortest start and the most runs he has allowed this season.
"A lot of mislocated pitches," he said through an interpreter, "and they took advantage of all of them."
Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks. Gregor Blanco had three hits, two of them doubles, drove in a run and scored twice.
Arizona scored 21 runs in the three-game sweep and has won nine of 10.
"It's just starting pitching this series wasn't there," Roberts said. " ... We talk about you're as good as your starting pitching, so it was one of these series where for three days we didn't have it."
As has happened throughout the series, the Diamondbacks struck early.
Blanco, leading off, took advantage of a lackadaisical play by right fielder Yasiel Puig to stretch a single into a double.
"The very first play really set an incredible tone," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "G.B. getting a hustle double. It just pepped up the entire dugout and redirected our entire thoughts as a group. We followed suit from there."
Iannetta followed with a walk, and Goldschmidt doubled down the left field line to bring both Iannetta and Blanco home. That made it 10 first-inning runs for Arizona in the series.
Los Angeles cut it to 2-1 in the second when Yasmani Grandal singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's double.
But the Diamondbacks added three in their half of the inning. With two outs, Blanco brought in a run with his second double, and Iannetta followed with a soaring, two-run shot into the left-field seats to put the Diamondbacks up 5-1.
Goldschmidt's double, followed by Pollock's line shot just over the left-field fence boosted the lead to 7-1 in the third.
Pollock made two outstanding defensive plays in center, one a leaping grab at the wall and the other a diving grab in the right-field gap to rob Puig in the ninth.
HELP ON THE WAY
Fortunately for the Dodgers, they have the right person to put a stop to this skid when Clayton Kershaw returns to the rotation Friday night against San Diego.
"Obviously, with where we're at right now, I know that, not that he needs any more motivation or incentive," Roberts said, "but I know that he's looking to put a stop to this little downslide."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: The Dodgers took a patient approach in bringing back Kershaw, who has been sidelined since July 23 with a bad back. Roberts wants to keep Kershaw in the neighborhood of 75 pitches.
Diamondbacks: RHP Randall Delgado (elbow) plans to throw a simulated game Saturday with an eye on returning to the bullpen next week.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Kershaw (15-2, 2.04 ERA) makes his much-anticipated return from the DL to face the Padres on Friday night in San Diego. RHP Dinelson Lamet (7-5, 4.60) starts for San Diego.
Diamondbacks: Arizona heads to Colorado for a critical three-game series. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-7, 3.55 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks in Friday night's opener against Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (11-8, 3.81).
That and a parade of Arizona hits against another struggling Dodgers starter.
Greinke earned his major-league-best 16th victory with six strong innings as the Diamondbacks wrapped up the three-game sweep with a dominant 8-1 victory on Thursday.
Chris Iannetta and A.J. Pollock homered for the D-backs, who matched their season-best seventh straight victory and pulled 3½ games ahead of idle Colorado for the National League's top wild-card spot.
The Dodgers, still possessing by far the best record in the majors (91-41), have lost a season-worst five games in a row.
"Teams are going out and looking to play their best baseball against us, and the clip that we were on for a few months, obviously we were in rare company," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Did I foresee us losing five in a row? No. But I know we'll turn it around."
Greinke (16-6) allowed a run and four hits, striking out six and walking two, to improve to 13-1 in 16 home starts this season.
"It was just a great game," he said. "Got a lot of runs. Amazing plays defensively. Couldn't have got much better than that in that regard. ... Played flawlessly this whole series."
The Dodgers' Kenta Maeda (12-6) had arguably his worst outing of the year. The right-hander went just three innings and gave up seven runs and eight hits. It was his shortest start and the most runs he has allowed this season.
"A lot of mislocated pitches," he said through an interpreter, "and they took advantage of all of them."
Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks. Gregor Blanco had three hits, two of them doubles, drove in a run and scored twice.
Arizona scored 21 runs in the three-game sweep and has won nine of 10.
"It's just starting pitching this series wasn't there," Roberts said. " ... We talk about you're as good as your starting pitching, so it was one of these series where for three days we didn't have it."
As has happened throughout the series, the Diamondbacks struck early.
Blanco, leading off, took advantage of a lackadaisical play by right fielder Yasiel Puig to stretch a single into a double.
"The very first play really set an incredible tone," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "G.B. getting a hustle double. It just pepped up the entire dugout and redirected our entire thoughts as a group. We followed suit from there."
Iannetta followed with a walk, and Goldschmidt doubled down the left field line to bring both Iannetta and Blanco home. That made it 10 first-inning runs for Arizona in the series.
Los Angeles cut it to 2-1 in the second when Yasmani Grandal singled, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's double.
But the Diamondbacks added three in their half of the inning. With two outs, Blanco brought in a run with his second double, and Iannetta followed with a soaring, two-run shot into the left-field seats to put the Diamondbacks up 5-1.
Goldschmidt's double, followed by Pollock's line shot just over the left-field fence boosted the lead to 7-1 in the third.
Pollock made two outstanding defensive plays in center, one a leaping grab at the wall and the other a diving grab in the right-field gap to rob Puig in the ninth.
HELP ON THE WAY
Fortunately for the Dodgers, they have the right person to put a stop to this skid when Clayton Kershaw returns to the rotation Friday night against San Diego.
"Obviously, with where we're at right now, I know that, not that he needs any more motivation or incentive," Roberts said, "but I know that he's looking to put a stop to this little downslide."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: The Dodgers took a patient approach in bringing back Kershaw, who has been sidelined since July 23 with a bad back. Roberts wants to keep Kershaw in the neighborhood of 75 pitches.
Diamondbacks: RHP Randall Delgado (elbow) plans to throw a simulated game Saturday with an eye on returning to the bullpen next week.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Kershaw (15-2, 2.04 ERA) makes his much-anticipated return from the DL to face the Padres on Friday night in San Diego. RHP Dinelson Lamet (7-5, 4.60) starts for San Diego.
Diamondbacks: Arizona heads to Colorado for a critical three-game series. RHP Taijuan Walker (7-7, 3.55 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks in Friday night's opener against Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (11-8, 3.81).
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Los Angeles - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Taylor popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Granderson struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| Turner flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Kenta Maeda pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Blanco doubled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Iannetta walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Lamb grounded into fielder's choice to second, Iannetta out at second, Blanco to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Goldschmidt doubled to left, Blanco and Lamb scored. | 0 | 2 |
| Martinez grounded out to shortstop, Goldschmidt to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Pollock lined out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Bellinger grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| Grandal singled to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Grandal to second on wild pitch by Greinke. | 0 | 2 |
| Puig grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 2 |
| González doubled to right, Grandal scored. | 1 | 2 |
| Forsythe walked. | 1 | 2 |
| González to third on wild pitch by Greinke. | 1 | 2 |
| Maeda struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Kenta Maeda pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Descalso popped out to pitcher. | 1 | 2 |
| Marte singled to right. | 1 | 2 |
| Greinke struck out swinging. | 1 | 2 |
| Blanco doubled to right, Marte scored. | 1 | 3 |
| Blanco stole third. | 1 | 3 |
| Iannetta homered to left (411 feet), Blanco scored. | 1 | 5 |
| Lamb struck out swinging. | 1 | 5 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Taylor flied out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Granderson fouled out to shortstop. | 1 | 5 |
| Turner doubled to deep center. | 1 | 5 |
| Bellinger flied out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Kenta Maeda pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Goldschmidt doubled to deep center. | 1 | 5 |
| Martinez struck out swinging. | 1 | 5 |
| Pollock homered to left center (395 feet), Goldschmidt scored. | 1 | 7 |
| Descalso struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| Marte singled to right. | 1 | 7 |
| Greinke flied out to center. | 1 | 7 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Grandal fouled out to first. | 1 | 7 |
| Puig grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 7 |
| González struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tony Cingrani pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Cingrani relieved Maeda. | 1 | 7 |
| Blanco struck out looking. | 1 | 7 |
| Iannetta struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| Lamb lined out to pitcher. | 1 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Forsythe struck out looking. | 1 | 7 |
| Utley hit for Cingrani. | 1 | 7 |
| Utley flied out to center. | 1 | 7 |
| Taylor walked. | 1 | 7 |
| Taylor to second on wild pitch by Greinke. | 1 | 7 |
| Granderson grounded out to second. | 1 | 7 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Josh Ravin pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Ravin relieved Cingrani. | 1 | 7 |
| Goldschmidt struck out looking. | 1 | 7 |
| Martinez walked. | 1 | 7 |
| Pollock hit by pitch, Martinez to second. | 1 | 7 |
| Descalso singled to right, Martinez scored, Pollock to third. | 1 | 8 |
| Marte grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Descalso out at second. | 1 | 8 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Zack Greinke pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Turner struck out swinging. | 1 | 8 |
| Bellinger popped out to third. | 1 | 8 |
| Grandal singled to right center. | 1 | 8 |
| Grandal to second on wild pitch by Greinke. | 1 | 8 |
| Puig struck out swinging. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Luis Avilan pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Forsythe at third base. | 1 | 8 |
| Barnes at second base. | 1 | 8 |
| Avilán relieved Ravin. | 1 | 8 |
| Rosales hit for Greinke. | 1 | 8 |
| Rosales grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 8 |
| Blanco singled to right center. | 1 | 8 |
| Iannetta walked, Blanco to second. | 1 | 8 |
| Lamb grounded into double play, first to shortstop to pitcher, Iannetta out at second. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| T.J. McFarland pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| McFarland relieved Greinke. | 1 | 8 |
| González grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 8 |
| Forsythe grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 8 |
| Barnes lined out to center. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Pedro Baez pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Báez relieved Avilán. | 1 | 8 |
| Goldschmidt grounded out to third. | 1 | 8 |
| Martinez struck out swinging. | 1 | 8 |
| Pollock grounded out to second. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| T.J. McFarland pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Taylor reached on infield single to first. | 1 | 8 |
| Granderson grounded out to first, Taylor to second. | 1 | 8 |
| Hernández hit for Báez. | 1 | 8 |
| Hernández walked. | 1 | 8 |
| Bellinger struck out swinging. | 1 | 8 |
| Grandal grounded out to pitcher. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Arizona - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Ross Stripling pitching for Los Angeles | LAD | ARI |
| Stripling relieved Báez. | 1 | 8 |
| Descalso struck out swinging. | 1 | 8 |
| Marte grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 8 |
| Fuentes hit for McFarland. | 1 | 8 |
| Fuentes grounded out to second. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Jake Barrett pitching for Arizona | LAD | ARI |
| Fuentes in right field. | 1 | 8 |
| Barrett relieved McFarland. | 1 | 8 |
| Puig lined out to center. | 1 | 8 |
| González struck out swinging. | 1 | 8 |
| Forsythe grounded out to second. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Taylor SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .305 | .376 | .530 |
| Granderson CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .217 | .330 | .474 |
| Turner 3B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .327 | .419 | .529 |
Avilán P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Báez P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .500 | .000 |
b-Hernández PH
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | .209 | .304 | .430 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
| Bellinger LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .271 | .353 | .602 |
| Grandal C | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .263 | .315 | .475 |
| Puig RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | .258 | .346 | .480 |
| González 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .241 | .286 | .340 |
| Forsythe 2B-3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .231 | .365 | .321 |
| Maeda P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .114 | .114 | .143 |
Cingrani P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Utley PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .237 | .329 | .401 |
Ravin P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Barnes 2B
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .298 | .410 | .494 |
| Totals | 32 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 143 | |||
| a-flied out to center for T Cingrani in the 5th b-walked for P Baez in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: González (15, Greinke); Turner (25, Greinke) RBI: González (28) 2-out RBI: González Dodgers RISP: 1-8 (Grandal 0-1, Puig 0-2, González 1-1, Maeda 0-1, Granderson 0-1, Bellinger 0-2) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Forsythe-Taylor-González, González-Taylor-Avilán). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ |
| Attendance | 19,882 (41% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:02 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Jeff Nelson, First Base - Ryan Additon, Second Base - Cory Blaser, Third Base - Doug Eddings |
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