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Tuesday, Sep. 19 10:10pm ET
Streaking Dodgers dump fading D-Backs | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Maybe the Los Angeles Dodgers aren't out of it. Chan Ho Park pitched eight shutout innings, and Mark Grudzielanek broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the eighth Tuesday night as the Dodgers blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0 for their fifth straight victory. By winning, the Dodgers moved within 5½ games of the New York Mets in the NL wild card race. The Diamondbacks, who have lost four in a row, remained five games behind the Mets. The Dodgers were 8½ games behind the Mets entering Sunday's action, but have picked up three games in as many days. "We've still got to win 10 more," Dodgers manager Davey Johnson said. "We've got to win 'em all and we still need help." Tom Goodwin singled with two outs in the Dodgers eighth off Brian Anderson (10-6) and stole his 50th base of the season. Grudzielanek followed with his third hit of the game, a grounder into right field. "Speed's a wonderful thing, clutch hitting, too," Johnson said. Grudzielanek said he was just trying to see the ball and hit it hard. "The way I've been swinging lately, it's been terrible," he said. "Anderson kept us off-balance all night, in and out, he mixed it up. Chan Ho did the same thing. That eighth inning was remarkable pitching by him." Park (16-10) blanked the Diamondbacks on six hits while walking four and striking out eight, and set a career high for victories. Jeff Shaw pitched the ninth for his 26th save in 33 chances. Anderson gave up seven hits while walking none and striking out three in his first complete game of the year. Jay Bell and Greg Colbrunn singled to put runners at first and third with one out in the Arizona eighth, but Park fanned Steve Finley and Matt Williams to escape the jam. "I was looking for a strikeout," Park said of his approach to pitching Finley. A curveball on a 3-2 pitch did the job. "It was luck, because it was a ball," Park said. "That gave me confidence for Williams." Williams swung and missed on two curveballs to strike out for the second time. Anderson has given up one earned run in four of his last five starts, but is 0-1 with four no-decisions in those outings. "It's the story of the year for me," he said of his latest effort. "I had another streak earlier in the year that was about the same. So I am numb to it by now. It doesn't bother me one way or the other." Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter said Anderson could be approaching 20 wins by now with some breaks. "A broken-bat single to center and a ground ball that snuck through ended up being the margin that counted," Showalter said. "Park is a four or five-pitch pitcher, and all of them are above-average. He's been a good pitcher for a long time. But you've got to figure out a way to beat the good ones, too." Anderson retired the first 10 batters before Grudzielanek singled with one out in the fourth. Shawn Green then grounded into an inning-ending double play. Damian Miller walked and Anderson singled with two outs in the fifth for the first Arizona threat, but Park fanned Tony Womack to end the inning. Bruce Aven, playing in place of the injured Gary Sheffield for the Dodgers, robbed Bell of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch at the top of the left-field fence in the sixth. Aven said he was uncertain as to whether Bell's fly would have been a home run. "I know it couldn't have been too far out because I don't have that kind of leaps," he said with a smile. "I'm just glad I didn't knock it over." Game notesSheffield sat out the game due to stiffness in his lower back, which also caused him to miss two games over the weekend before he played Monday night. Sheffield, who has 41 homers, was diagnosed as having a lumbar strain, and is day-to-day. ... Arizona outfielder Danny Bautista left the team to be with his wife, Frandy, who is expected to deliver the couple's third child Wednesday. ... The Dodgers have hit 204 homers -- four shy of the franchise record of 208 set in 1953, when the team played in Brooklyn. ... Aven, who had two hits, was making his first appearance since Aug. 28. He had been sidelined with a strained oblique muscle in his right side. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Arizona Clubhouse Los Angeles Clubhouse Report: Dodgers GM contacts Kennedy about managerial job
RECAPS Oakland 7 Baltimore 4
Oakland 0
Los Angeles 1
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