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LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 (UPI) — Gerardo Parra knocked in four runs and Joe Saunders delivered a solid start Monday, boosting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 7-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Parra capped a five-run Diamondbacks rally in the sixth inning with a two-run single and drove in two more with an eighth-inning double, helping Arizona win the opener of a three-game series.

Paul Goldschmidt and Ryan Roberts each went 2-for-4 with an RBI as first-place Arizona cut its magic number to clinch the National League West to seven with its 17th win in 20 games.

Saunders (11-12) held the Dodgers to two runs on four hits over seven frames, walking only one and striking out four en route to the victory.

Ted Lilly (9-14) yielded three runs on three hits in a 5 1/3-inning effort for Los Angeles.

Matt Kemp homered and Jerry Sands went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the loss.

PHOENIX, Aug. 7 (UPI) — Cody Ransom blasted a two-run homer in the seventh inning Sunday, rallying the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3.

Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Collin Cowgill collected a one-out single off Clayton Kershaw (13-5) and Ransom then pulled a 1-1 pitch deep into the left field stands, allowing the D-backs to salvage one win in a three-game set with Los Angeles.

Kelly Johnson also contributed a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who stayed within a half-game of San Francisco atop the National League West and snapped their three-game losing streak.

Ian Kennedy (14-3) earned the win with a seven-inning performance during which he allowed three runs on six hits while fanning three and walking one.

J.J. Putz notched his 26th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Kershaw ended up going 6 1/3 innings, surrendering four runs on five hits.

James Loney socked a solo home run for the Dodgers.

PHOENIX (AP) — Joe Saunders felt like he had been nibbled at after the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night.

“I need some Band-Aids,” said Saunders, who was chased after 5 1-3 innings. “I made some good pitches and they hit balls that weren’t hit very hard. They put the ball in perfect spots.”

One such hit came in the second inning. After giving up a one-out double down the right-field line to Juan Rivera, Saunders (8-9) was a pitch away from escaping trouble when Rod Barajas blooped a single just over the extended glove of shortstop Willie Bloomquist to make it 1-0.

“When you execute your pitch and they find a hole, whether it’s a broken-bat 10-foot hit or a broken-bat 90-foot hit, you just have to turn the page as quick as you can,” Saunders said. “You did your job but the guy is still on base.”

Saunders couldn’t escape the sixth inning, when the Dodgers scored twice for a 4-2 lead. Andre Ethier singled and was safe when Bloomquist mishandled a grounder into the hole by Juan Rivera. Aaron Miles hit an RBI single that chased Saunders, and Barajas singled home a run off Brad Ziegler.

The Dodgers added another run off Ziegler in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Rivera.

Justin Upton hit an RBI double with two outs in the eighth off Matt Guerrier to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-3 before the right-hander retired Chris Young on a drive to the warning track in left.

“We are not clicking right now,” Diamondbacks bench coach Alan Trammell said. “It’s tough to always come back but give the guys credit. We had the tying run at the plate in the last inning.”

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was under the weather and watched the game from the clubhouse.

Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) pitched five solid innings in his major league debut, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out seven and walked two for the Dodgers, who have won four of five.

Eovaldi also notched his first career hit in his first trip to the plate.

“We were hoping from our standpoint that he would be a little more nervous but it didn’t seem to be an issue,” Trammell said. “He has a good arm. We knew that. But you just hope that first go-around he’d get a little bit nervous and then put a couple of guys on base.”

Scott Elbert pitched the ninth for his second save.

Eovaldi retired the first five batters he faced before loading the bases in the bottom the second on a hit and a pair of walks. Saunders took advantage, singling to right to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

The Dodgers tied the game in the third when Eovaldi singled and scored on a groundout by Ethier.

NOTES: Eovaldi is the sixth Dodgers player to make his major league debut this season. The 221-year-old also is one of six Los Angeles players 25 or younger. … Arizona C Miguel Montero failed to reach base for the first time in 16 games. … Dodgers SS Dee Gordon left the game in the bottom of the third after landing awkwardly on his right shoulder while tagging out Kelly Johnson in a rundown. He remained on all fours for a few minutes before walking off the field without assistance and was replaced by Jamey Carroll. Dodgers medical staff ruled out a shoulder separation and said Gordon is day-to-day. “They told me I should have (thrown to Eovaldi covering first) but I play hard, man,” Gordon said. “I felt like I could catch him.”

PHOENIX (AP) — Nathan Eovaldi walked into the Los Angeles Dodgers clubhouse with shaving cream and a huge smile spread across his face.

Eovaldi pitched five solid innings in his major league debut and the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Saturday night.

“In the bullpen I was a little nervous but after that I felt good,” said Eovaldi, whose previous highlight this season was pitching in the Double-A Southern League All-Star game in late June. “Once you get to Double-A you can get called up at any time so you have to be prepared.”

Eovaldi (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out seven and walked two for the Dodgers, who have won four of five.

“He came out early and threw strikes,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “He wasn’t too amped up and trying to throw the ball through the catcher’s glove. He was fairly calm and for the most part attacked.”

Eovaldi also notched his first career hit in his first trip to the plate.

“We were hoping from our standpoint that he would be a little more nervous but it didn’t seem to be an issue,” Diamondbacks bench coach Alan Trammell said. “He has a good arm. We knew that. But you just hope that first go around he’d get a little bit nervous and then but a couple of guys on base.”

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was under the weather, watched the game from the clubhouse and didn’t meet with the media.

Scott Elbert pitched the ninth for his second save.

Joe Saunders (8-9) had two hits and drove in two for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped three straight.

The Dodgers scored twice in the sixth for a 4-2 lead. Andre Ethier singled and was safe when shortstop Willie Bloomquist mishandled a grounder into the hole by Juan Rivera. Aaron Miles hit an RBI single that chased Saunders, and Rod Barajas singled home a run off Brad Ziegler.

The Dodgers added another run off Ziegler in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Rivera.

Justin Upton hit an RBI double with two outs in the eighth off Matt Guerrier to cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-3 before the right-hander retired Chris Young on a drive to the warning track in left.

“We are not clicking right now,” Trammell said. “It’s tough to always come back but give the guys credit. We had the tying run at the plate in the last inning.”

Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the second on Barajas’ bloop single just over Bloomquist’s extended glove.

Eovaldi retired the first five batters he faced before loading the bases in the bottom the second on a hit and a pair of walks. Saunders took advantage, singling to right to give Arizona a 2-1 lead.

The Dodgers tied the game in the third when Eovaldi singled and scored a groundout by Ethier.

“I when you execute your pitch and they grind a whole, whether it’s a broken-bat 10-foot hit or a broken bat 90-foot hit, you just have to turn the page as quick as you can,” Saunders said. “You did your job but the guy is still on base.”

NOTES: Eovaldi is the sixth Dodgers player to make his major league debut this season. The 221-year-old also is one of six Los Angeles players 25 or younger. … Arizona C Miguel Montero failed to reach base for the first time in 16 games. … Dodgers SS Dee Gordon left the game in the bottom of the third after landing awkwardly on his right shoulder while tagging out Kelly Johnson in a rundown. He remained on all fours for a few minutes before walking off the field without assistance and was replaced by Jamey Carroll. Dodgers medical staff ruled out a shoulder separation and said Gordon is day-to-day. “They told me I should have (thrown to Eovaldi covering first) but I play hard, man,” Gordon said. “I felt like I could catch him.”

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When: 6:40 p.m. | Where: Chase Field
Projected starters: RHP Josh Collmenter (6-6, 3.10) vs. Dodgers RHP Chad Billingsley (9-9, 4.15)
TV: FSAZ | Radio: KTAR-AM (620), KSUN-AM (1400)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers waved goodbye to shortstop Rafael Furcal, who appeared to be on his way to St. Louis after five-plus seasons in Los Angeles. And Furcal’s sudden departure cast an even larger pall in the clubhouse following their loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Justin Upton greeted Matt Guerrier with a go-ahead, three-run double in the sixth inning and Arizona climbed within three games of the NL West lead with a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday night.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti were measuring their words carefully before the game when asked about the status of Furcal’s impending trade to the Cardinals.

The two-time All-Star shortstop was held out of the lineup Saturday. He participated in batting practice and pregame drills, but he was not in the dugout in the ninth inning when Mattingly used Eugenio Velez to hit for reliever Josh Lindblom.

Furcal cleaned out his locker, but the team made no formal announcement after the game that he was traded.

“Raffy’s got a lot of friends here, so we’re sad to see him go and we’re going to miss him,” second baseman Aaron Miles said. “He’s been a big part of this team. It’s been tough for him to get on the field this year, but he’s going to a great team and a great organization. It’s a real good opportunity for him and I wish him the best.”

Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley (9-9) was charged with six runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four and tied a season high with five walks. One of them was to No. 8 hitter Gerardo Parra with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth. Xavier Nady batted for Micah Owings (5-0) and hit a sacrifice fly, reducing the Dodgers’ lead to 4-3.

“Billingsley was pounding the zone earlier, but he just wasn’t locating in the sixth and we took advantage of it,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “That’s what you have to do. You have to recognize it and just lay off the pitches that are just marginally off the plate. That’s what we did.”

Another walk to Kelly Johnson on Billingsley’s 103rd and final pitch loaded the bases again. Upton then hit a drive to center that skidded on the wet grass and got past Matt Kemp, clearing the bases. The three RBIs increased Upton’s team-high total to 65, just four fewer than he had last season in 133 games.

Kemp, who hit a two-run drive in the third for his 26th homer of the season, came up in the seventh representing the potential tying run. But Bryan Shaw struck him out with a runner at third. J.J. Putz, the sixth Arizona pitcher, pitched a hitless ninth for his 23rd save in 27 attempts.

The Diamondbacks also loaded the bases with none out in the second, but all they could get out of it was a sacrifice fly from Willie Bloomquist. Right fielder Andre Ethier prevented two more runs when he robbed Johnson of extra bases with a lunging catch while going full speed toward the warning track.

The Dodgers grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third. Casey Blake, in his first game off the disabled list, hit a sacrifice fly one pitch after a one-out triple by Tony Gwynn Jr. Ethier singled with two outs and Kemp deposited Owings’ 2-1 pitch into the pavilion seats in left-center, raising his NL-leading RBI total to 82.

Jamey Carroll’s line drive up the middle through a drawn-in infield increased the margin to 4-1 in the fourth.

Notes: Hiroki Kuroda informed Colletti that he decided not to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. He was the subject of considerable trade speculation prior to Sunday’s non-waiver trade deadline. “In my heart of hearts, knowing him like I know him, I’m not surprised that is the way he felt,” Colletti said. “I would have been more surprised if he had said, ‘OK, I’ll go somewhere else.’ In a way, it’s refreshing. He made a commitment to sign here, and he wants to fulfill that commitment. … Blake missed the Dodgers’ previous 21 games because of a cervical strain. The Dodgers placed 3B Juan Uribe on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 24, because of a groin strain.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers waved goodbye to shortstop Rafael Furcal, who appeared to be on his way to St. Louis after five-plus seasons in Los Angeles. And Furcal’s sudden departure cast an even larger pall in the clubhouse following their loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Justin Upton greeted Matt Guerrier with a go-ahead, three-run double in the sixth inning and Arizona climbed within three games of the NL West lead with a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday night.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti were measuring their words carefully before the game when asked about the status of Furcal’s impending trade to the Cardinals.

The two-time All-Star shortstop was held out of the lineup Saturday. He participated in batting practice and pregame drills, but he was not in the dugout in the ninth inning when Mattingly used Eugenio Velez to hit for reliever Josh Lindblom.

Furcal cleaned out his locker, but the team made no formal announcement after the game that he was traded.

“Raffy’s got a lot of friends here, so we’re sad to see him go and we’re going to miss him,” second baseman Aaron Miles said. “He’s been a big part of this team. It’s been tough for him to get on the field this year, but he’s going to a great team and a great organization. It’s a real good opportunity for him and I wish him the best.”

Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley (9-9) was charged with six runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four and tied a season high with five walks. One of them was to No. 8 hitter Gerardo Parra with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth. Xavier Nady batted for Micah Owings (5-0) and hit a sacrifice fly, reducing the Dodgers’ lead to 4-3.

“Billingsley was pounding the zone earlier, but he just wasn’t locating in the sixth and we took advantage of it,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “That’s what you have to do. You have to recognize it and just lay off the pitches that are just marginally off the plate. That’s what we did.”

Another walk to Kelly Johnson on Billingsley’s 103rd and final pitch loaded the bases again. Upton then hit a drive to center that skidded on the wet grass and got past Matt Kemp, clearing the bases. The three RBIs increased Upton’s team-high total to 65, just four fewer than he had last season in 133 games.

Kemp, who hit a two-run drive in the third for his 26th homer of the season, came up in the seventh representing the potential tying run. But Bryan Shaw struck him out with a runner at third. J.J. Putz, the sixth Arizona pitcher, pitched a hitless ninth for his 23rd save in 27 attempts.

The Diamondbacks also loaded the bases with none out in the second, but all they could get out of it was a sacrifice fly from Willie Bloomquist. Right fielder Andre Ethier prevented two more runs when he robbed Johnson of extra bases with a lunging catch while going full speed toward the warning track.

The Dodgers grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third. Casey Blake, in his first game off the disabled list, hit a sacrifice fly one pitch after a one-out triple by Tony Gwynn Jr. Ethier singled with two outs and Kemp deposited Owings’ 2-1 pitch into the pavilion seats in left-center, raising his NL-leading RBI total to 82.

Jamey Carroll’s line drive up the middle through a drawn-in infield increased the margin to 4-1 in the fourth.

Notes: Hiroki Kuroda informed Colletti that he decided not to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. He was the subject of considerable trade speculation prior to Sunday’s non-waiver trade deadline. “In my heart of hearts, knowing him like I know him, I’m not surprised that is the way he felt,” Colletti said. “I would have been more surprised if he had said, ‘OK, I’ll go somewhere else.’ In a way, it’s refreshing. He made a commitment to sign here, and he wants to fulfill that commitment. … Blake missed the Dodgers’ previous 21 games because of a cervical strain. The Dodgers placed 3B Juan Uribe on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 24, because of a groin strain.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

LOS ANGELES —

The Los Angeles Dodgers waved goodbye to shortstop Rafael Furcal, who appeared to be on his way to St. Louis after five-plus seasons in Los Angeles. And Furcal’s sudden departure cast an even larger pall in the clubhouse following their loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Justin Upton greeted Matt Guerrier with a go-ahead, three-run double in the sixth inning and Arizona climbed within three games of the NL West lead with a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers on Saturday night.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti were measuring their words carefully before the game when asked about the status of Furcal’s impending trade to the Cardinals.

The two-time All-Star shortstop was held out of the lineup Saturday. He participated in batting practice and pregame drills, but he was not in the dugout in the ninth inning when Mattingly used Eugenio Velez to hit for reliever Josh Lindblom.

Furcal cleaned out his locker, but the team made no formal announcement after the game that he was traded.

“Raffy’s got a lot of friends here, so we’re sad to see him go and we’re going to miss him,” second baseman Aaron Miles said. “He’s been a big part of this team. It’s been tough for him to get on the field this year, but he’s going to a great team and a great organization. It’s a real good opportunity for him and I wish him the best.”

Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley (9-9) was charged with six runs and seven hits over 5 2-3 innings. He struck out four and tied a season high with five walks. One of them was to No. 8 hitter Gerardo Parra with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth. Xavier Nady batted for Micah Owings (5-0) and hit a sacrifice fly, reducing the Dodgers’ lead to 4-3.

“Billingsley was pounding the zone earlier, but he just wasn’t locating in the sixth and we took advantage of it,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “That’s what you have to do. You have to recognize it and just lay off the pitches that are just marginally off the plate. That’s what we did.”

Another walk to Kelly Johnson on Billingsley’s 103rd and final pitch loaded the bases again. Upton then hit a drive to center that skidded on the wet grass and got past Matt Kemp, clearing the bases. The three RBIs increased Upton’s team-high total to 65, just four fewer than he had last season in 133 games.

Kemp, who hit a two-run drive in the third for his 26th homer of the season, came up in the seventh representing the potential tying run. But Bryan Shaw struck him out with a runner at third. J.J. Putz, the sixth Arizona pitcher, pitched a hitless ninth for his 23rd save in 27 attempts.

The Diamondbacks also loaded the bases with none out in the second, but all they could get out of it was a sacrifice fly from Willie Bloomquist. Right fielder Andre Ethier prevented two more runs when he robbed Johnson of extra bases with a lunging catch while going full speed toward the warning track.

The Dodgers grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third. Casey Blake, in his first game off the disabled list, hit a sacrifice fly one pitch after a one-out triple by Tony Gwynn Jr. Ethier singled with two outs and Kemp deposited Owings’ 2-1 pitch into the pavilion seats in left-center, raising his NL-leading RBI total to 82.

Jamey Carroll’s line drive up the middle through a drawn-in infield increased the margin to 4-1 in the fourth.

NOTES: RHP Hiroki Kuroda informed Colletti that he decided not to waive the no-trade clause in his contract. He was the subject of considerable trade speculation prior to Sunday’s non-waiver trade deadline. “In my heart of hearts, knowing him like I know him, I’m not surprised that is the way he felt,” Colletti said. “I would have been more surprised if he had said, ‘OK, I’ll go somewhere else.’ In a way, it’s refreshing. He made a commitment to sign here, and he wants to fulfill that commitment. … Blake missed the Dodgers’ previous 21 games because of a cervical strain. The Dodgers placed 3B Juan Uribe on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 24, because of a groin strain.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to start a three-game series in Los Angeles against the rival Dodgers.