Upton Undoes Dodgers In Sixth

A five-run sixth inning by the Diamondbacks turned the game around tonight, as Arizona beat the Dodgers 6-4 on a busy day of trades and non-trades at Dodger Stadium. A three-run double by the white-hot Justin Upton proved to be the game winner.

In his last start, against the Nationals on Sunday, Chad Billingsley began the game by allowing the first three batters to reach, loading the bases with one out. He allowed one run in that inning, then almost literally nothing else the rest of the way. Tonight, Billingsley fought two similar situations.

In the second, Arizona loaded the bases with nobody out, but Billingsley escaped allowing only one run. Then, in the sixth inning, the Diamondbacks packed the sacks full before recording an out, and this time Billingsley wasn't so fortunate. Billingsley allowed two runs to score on his watch in the sixth inning, and was removed with two outs after his fourth walk of the inning. The bases were loaded, and Upton unloaded them with a three-run double off Matt Guerrier.

Dual Threat Bison

Matt Kemp singled to open the second inning, then stole second base off Micah Owings. It was the 28th steal of the season for Kemp, and 20th in a row without being caught, according to Elias the longest active streak in baseball. One inning later, with one run already in and Andre Ethier on first base, Kemp hit a rainmaker to center field, clearing the fence for his 26th home run of the year. Tonight was the third game this season in which Kemp has picked up a home run and a stolen base, and in his career he is in some pretty heady company in that regard.

The Dodgers added a run in the fourth inning thanks to a leadoff double by Aaron Miles and an RBI single from Jamey Carroll, who drove in a run for the second straight night. Carroll, who by all accounts has had a fine season -- hitting .294/.364/.358 -- has struggled mightily with runners in scoring position this year. Entering tonight Carroll had eight singles in 51 at-bats with RISP, hitting .157/.313/.157. Tonight's RBI was Carroll's 10th of the year, prompting the Dodger dugout to call for and save the ball for Carroll as a souvenir.

Scoring Change

A scoring change was made from Friday night's contest. In the seventh inning, Tony Gwynn's fly ball that was misplayed, but not touched, by Justin Upton, was changed from an error to an RBI double. Add in Gwynn's triple tonight, and that's two straight games with an extra-base hit for Gwynn, as well as two triples and a double in his last 13 plate appearances.

Notes

• Billingsley had five walks and four strikeouts on the night -- the four walks in the sixth were his undoing -- marking the third game this season for Billingsley with more walks than strikeouts.
• Billingsley has garnered a decision in each of his last 15 starts (seven wins, eight losses, in case you weren't keeping track)
  
• Kemp has a seven-game hitting streak, and has reached base at least twice in six of those seven games. During the streak, Kemp is hitting .429/.452/.750.
• Scott Elbert pitched a perfect top of the seventh inning tonight, running his string since the All-Star break to 14 straight batters retired. However, Elbert also pitched the eighth inning, allowing two singles and an intentional walk.
• Upton has an extra-base hit in 10 consecutive games, the longest streak in baseball since Carlos Gonzalez had 10 straight last year for Colorado. Upton is only the ninth player since 2000 to have a double-digit streak of games with an extra-base hit.
• Collin Cowgill singled to center field as a pinch hitter off Elbert in the top of the eighth for his first major league hit. Cowgill was 0-for-11 before the knock.
• Guerrier has allowed eight of 13 inherited runners to score in July
• Rubby De La Rosa starts the series finale on Sunday afternoon against Joe Saunders for Arizona

WP - Micah Owings (5-0): 5 IP, 6 hits, 4 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

LP - Chad Billingsley (9-9): 5 2/3 IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 5 walks, 4 strikeouts

Sv - J.J. Putz (23): 1 IP, 1 walk

Box Score