In a game in which the Dodgers frustratingly let opportunities pass them by, they almost rallied for an improbable comeback win in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 3-0 entering the final frame, the Dodgers parlayed three hits and an error into two runs, and had runners on first and third base with two outs. Alas, Mark Loretta's flyball to left found the glove of Gerardo Parra, and the Dodgers lost 3-2.
Here is what stood out:
- Hiroki Kuroda had some control problems early, but battled to last five innings, giving up only six baserunners and two runs, while striking out six.
- Clayton Kershaw was not needed in relief, meaning he will start Thursday against the Phillies and Cole Hamels
- Dodger relievers Cory Wade and Brent Leach combined for five wild pitches. Per the Dodger postgame notes, the only other time in franchise history the Dodgers threw five wild pitches was when Larry Cheney did so by himself on July 9, 1918
- Arizona third baseman Mark Reynolds robbed Russell Martin of two hits with a pair of great plays on groundouts
- Juan Pierre started June with three more hits. Could another scorching month be in his future?
- Matt Kemp extended his hitting streak to six games with a single and a double in four at-bats.
- Rafael Furcal had two hits for the second straight game, but what's impressive about tonight is that Furcal didn't enter the game until the bottom of the seventh inning
- Mark Reynolds and Juan Pierre each stole a base tonight. Even more shocking is that Reynolds has the same number of steals on the season (11) as Pierre.
Randy Wolf faces Dan Haren Tuesday night.
WP - Billy Buckner (2-1): 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts
LP - Hiroki Kuroda (1-1): 5 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts
Sv - Tony Pena (1): 1 IP, 3 hits, 2 unearned runs, 1 strikeout