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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing their
best ball of the season. Unfortunately, it's probably too late.
|  | | Eric Karros (second from right) celebrated his game-winning home run Wednesday against D-Backs relief pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. |
Eric Karros hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth
Wednesday night -- his first homer in 29 games -- to give the Dodgers
their second straight 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks and
a sweep of the three-game series.
Karros hit a 2-0 pitch from Byung-Hyun Kim (6-6) into the
left-field bullpen for his 31st homer of the season and first since
Aug. 22. The homer was the 242nd of Karros' career, tying him for
third place in franchise history with the late Roy Campanella.
Campanella's widow, Roxie, attended the game and congratulated
Karros afterward.
"She was very complimentary," Karros said. "She told me to go
out and try to get another one. The way things have been going, it
might not be until next year."
About Campanella, Karros said: "To be mentioned in that kind of
company is ridiculous. I'm not going to kid myself, I don't belong
in that company."
Darren Dreifort and two relievers blanked the Diamondbacks as
the Dodgers extended their winning streak to six games, equaling a
season high. They have three walkoff homers in their winning
streak.
The Dodgers moved ahead of Arizona into second place in the NL
West, and remained 5½ games behind the New York Mets in the NL wild
card race.
The Mets have 10 games left, the Dodgers nine.
"We're not out of it yet," Karros said. "Everybody's written
us off. One game at a time. We've been playing well and the
pitching's been outstanding."
The Diamondbacks, who have lost five in a row, are six games
behind the Mets with 12 games remaining.
San Francisco's win over Cincinnati and the Dodgers' victory
over Arizona meant the Giants clinched a tie for the NL West title.
The Diamondbacks could tie the Giants by winning their last 12
games if San Francisco lost its last 11.
Even though they're ahead of Arizona, the Dodgers were
eliminated from contention in the NL West when San Francisco won.
A total of just five runs were scored in the series -- Los
Angeles won Monday night's opener 2-1. Arizona hasn't scored a run
in 19 straight innings.
"The last three days, we've seen some real good pitching,"
said Randy Johnson, who blanked the Dodgers for seven innings.
"It's a little frustrating. But you just tip your hat to the
pitching we've faced in Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park and Dreifort
tonight."
Los Angeles starters pitched 22 2/3 shutout innings in the
series.
Matt Herges (11-3), who shut the Diamondbacks out in the top of
the ninth despite allowing two hits, was the winner. Herges has an
11-0 record as a reliever and is 0-3 as a starter.
Five of the first 11 Arizona batters hit singles before Dreifort
settled down, retiring 14 straight batters until Kelly Stinnett hit
a one-out infield single in the eighth. Hanley Frias ran for
Stinnett and was thrown out trying to steal by Paul LoDuca.
The Diamondbacks then loaded the bases when pinch-hitter Rob
Ryan walked, Tony Womack singled and Craig Counsell walked. Terry
Adams relieved Dreifort and struck out Luis Gonzalez to end the
threat.
Johnson blanked the Dodgers on five hits while walking two and
striking out eight, giving him a big league-leading 334 strikeouts
this season. He threw 125 pitches before being lifted for a
pinch-hitter.
Dreifort went 7 2/3 innings and gave up seven hits while walking
two and striking out seven. He used 108 pitches.
"What great pitching the whole series," Dodgers manager Davey
Johnson said. "The offenses were almost non-existent on both
sides. I like that better than bombs away. We had our good luck
charm in there -- Herges."
Game notes
Dodgers slugger Gary Sheffield sat out his second straight
game and fourth in the last five because of lower back pain. It's
hoped Sheffield, who has 41 homers and 104 RBIs, will be able to
play this weekend. ... Johnson failed to reach double figures in
strikeouts for only the 10th time in 33 starts this season. He has
148 double-digit strikeout games in his career to rank second
all-time behind Nolan Ryan's 215. ... Arizona outfielder Danny
Bautista returned to the team after missing Tuesday night's game to
be with his wife, Frandy, who delivered the couple's second son and
third child in Arizona early Wednesday. Daniel Bautista Jr. weighed
7 pounds, 6 ounces at birth. ... Mark Grudzielanek, moved from
shortstop to second base last winter, played short for the first
time this season, and Hiram Bocachica made his first big league
start at second for the Dodgers. ... Los Angeles starters have
pitched 24 1-3 consecutive scoreless innings.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Los Angeles Clubhouse
Dodgers GM denies talking to Kennedy about managing
RECAPS
Baltimore 2
Oakland 0
Oakland 4
Baltimore 0
(2nd game)
Cleveland 2
Boston 1
Cleveland 5
Boston 4
(2nd game)
Chi. White Sox 13
Detroit 6
Toronto 7
NY Yankees 2
Seattle 5
Tampa Bay 4
Anaheim 7
Kansas City 4
Texas 6
Minnesota 4
Montreal 4
Florida 2
Pittsburgh 7
Philadelphia 6
NY Mets 6
Atlanta 3
Milwaukee 3
Chicago Cubs 2
St. Louis 11
Houston 6
San Diego 15
Colorado 11
Los Angeles 1
Arizona 0
San Francisco 4
Cincinnati 2
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