Dodgers collect 17 hits in win over Diamondbacks
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers might be down to three healthy starting pitchers. But their offense continues to carry them.
The Dodgers banged out 17 hits, including home runs by Yasmani Grandal, Joc Pederson and Corey Seager, in a 14-3 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
With speculation persisting that the Dodgers will acquire a starting pitcher before Monday's non-waiver trade deadline, right-hander Bud Norris lasted only 13 pitches before leaving Sunday's game with back muscle tightness.
The Dodgers had already shortened their rotation to four pitchers with a glut of three off days in an eight-day span ending Monday. At the same time, ace Clayton Kershaw (out since late June with a back injury) has not been cleared to start a throwing program, making the Dodgers a good bet to add someone like Tampa Bay's Chris Archer or Matt Moore by trade.
On Sunday, however, they overcame that rough start with an offense that led the National League in runs per game during July (5.2).
The Diamondbacks scored one run without a hit in the first inning and then two more in the fourth, thanks in part to an odd play.
With runners on first and third, Dodgers reliever Ross Stripling bounced a pitch in the dirt that catcher Grandal blocked. But the ball ricocheted off Grandal's face mask and slipped down under his chest protector. Grandal didn't realize where the ball had gone quickly enough and the runner from third base was awarded home on the wild pitch.
Chris Owings followed with an RBI single that made it 3-0 in the Diamondbacks' favor.
But it was all Los Angeles after that with the Diamondbacks' poor defense adding fuel to the fire.
An error by Diamondbacks third baseman Jake Lamb was part of a three-run Dodgers burst that tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Chris Taylor and Howie Kendrick had RBI singles in the inning against Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin.
The Dodgers took the lead in the fifth inning on doubles by Justin Turner and Yasiel Puig. Puig's hit came on a drive to left-center that was misplayed by Diamondbacks left fielder Yasmany Tomas.
Another misplay that didn't officially go as an error -- shortstop Chris Owings couldn't handle Turner's hard ground ball -- allowed another Dodgers run to score in the sixth inning, and Grandal followed two batters later with his three-run home run.
It was Grandal's 15th home run of the season, tying him for the most among catchers this season.
An inning later, it was Seager who went deep to put the game away. It was Seager's 18th home run of the season but his first since June 30.
Seager, Grandal and Puig each finished with three hits and a combined total of eight RBIs.
Six Dodgers relievers combined for 8 2/3 innings in the wake of Norris' injury, allowing just three hits, none after the fourth inning.
NOTES: The Diamondbacks traded veteran RHP Tyler Clippard to the New York Yankees in exchange for RHP Vicente Campos. Clippard was 2-3 with one save and a 4.30 ERA in 40 appearances for the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks save money in the deal by trading the 31-year-old Clippard, who signed a two-year contract last off-season that pays him $4.1 million this year, $4.25 million next year and included a $4 million signing bonus. ... The Dodgers activated utilityman Enrique Hernandez from the disabled list on Sunday and started him in center field against the Diamondbacks. Hernandez had been out since June 29 with left ribcage inflammation. INF Austin Barnes was optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City to clear a roster spot. RHP Chris Hatcher is "unlikely" to return this season, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Hatcher was placed on the 60-day DL after suffering what Roberts called a "third-degree" strain of an oblique muscle on July 19.