Adrian Gonzalez Doubles Dodgers Pleasure

Slump? What slump? Adrian Gonzalez turned the quiet murmurs of worry into a loud ovation as he doubled home two runs in the ninth inning, turning a one-run deficit into a 5-4 Dodgers win over the Diamondbacks and a series split for the Dodgers.

Gonzalez lofted a fly ball to right center field in the seventh that seemed destined to end up his 13th consecutive hitless at-bat. But instead, the sun ball fell in between Justin Upton and Chris Young for a gift double, which put runners at second and third with two outs. But Matt Kemp, who snapped an 89-plate-appearance home run drought earlier, grounded out to end the inning, keeping the Dodgers' deficit at one run.

That disadvantage remained until one out in the ninth inning, when Mark Ellis singled and Shane Victorino walked, setting the stage for Gonzalez, who is hitting a whopping .399/.440/.685 with runners in scoring position this season.

The two-run double snapped a string for Diamondbacks closer J.J. Putz, who had gone his last 24 appearances and 23 2/3 innings without allowing a run.

Maybe Sunday was just a day for snapping streaks for the Dodgers, who moved to within a half-game of the Cardinals for the second National League wild card spot.

Up Next

The Dodgers welcome to town the team that has had the best record in the National League West in each of the last two months, the San Diego Padres, starting Monday night. Joe Blanton gets the start in the early 5:10 p.m. Labor Day game, facing off with rookie Andrew Werner for San Diego.

Sunday's Particulars

Home Runs: Matt Kemp (18); John McDonald (5), Miguel Montero (15)

WP - Ronald Belisario (4-1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 3 strikeouts

LP - J.J. Putz (1-5): 1/3 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout