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By Jon Weisman
The Dodgers scored two runs with their first three batters tonight — and didn’t do much after that — but it was enough for a 3-2 victory over Zack Greinke and Arizona, reducing Los Angeles’ magic number to clinch the National League West to 12.
Chase Utley’s double, Justin Turner’s triple and Welington Castillo’s passed ball gave the Dodgers the early lead, and after Kenta Maeda escaped a rough second inning at the cost of only a single run, the Dodgers added another unearned run in the fourth inning.
Arizona had six hits and seven walks, including three by Joe Blanton in the eighth, but went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position. After Chris Owings tripled with one out in the ninth off Kenley Jansen, Paul Goldschmidt’s sacrifice fly made it a one-run game, but Jake Lamb grounded out to end the game.
With St. Louis losing to San Francisco, the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot (at minimum, the second NL wild card) is nine.
oldbrooklynfan
I had a feeling this was one of those games that the Dodgers would only score early.