Kenta Maeda throws seven scoreless innings, Dodgers win

The benches stood pat on Saturday night, as Kenta Maeda cruised through seven scoreless innings in the Dodgers’ 4-0 victory over the Diamondbacks.

Maeda came into tonight’s contest winless in his last 11 starts. Since his last win on May 31, he had gone 0-6 with a 5.26 ERA. He delivered arguably one of the better starts in his career, throwing seven shutout innings, striking out six and issuing no walks.

He allowed only three hits on the night, and was able to prevent the D-Backs from getting runners on base. For the game, Arizona only at one at bat with a runner in scoring position.

Not only did Maeda do it on the mound, he also contributed at the plate. In the fourth inning, he brought in Corey Seager with an infield bunt single. This made the score 4-0 Dodgers.

Prior to Maeda’s RBI, Max Muncy put the Dodgers on the board in the second with a solo shot, his 28th of the season.

LA added another run in the third, after Kristopher Negrón brought in Russell Martin with an RBI single. The D-Backs elected to walk Justin Turner in the previous at bat to face Negrón, who was hitting in the three hole.

After Maeda exited the came, Caleb Ferguson and Joe Kelly combined to throw a hitless eighth inning.

A day after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth, Kenley Jansen was sent out there to pitch the ninth with a four-run cushion. He allowed a single, but retired the other three batters, securing the victory. The Dodgers’ now have an 18-game lead in the division, and their magic number is now 27.

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WP: Kenta Maeda (8-8) 7 IP, 6 SO, 0 ER, 0 BB

LP: Alex Young (4-2) 3 ¹⁄₃ IP, 4 ER, 3 BB

Home runs: Max Muncy (28)

Box score

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The Dodgers will look to get the series win on Sunday, as Hyun-Jin Ryu will be activated off the Injured List for the start. First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. PT.