Published November 20, 2014
This is how bad it's been for Los Angeles' slumping lineup: Sunday's starting pitcher for Arizona had more RBIs than the Dodgers had in the final two games of their series against the Diamondbacks.
Matt Kemp scored on a wild pitch but that was it for the Dodgers against Daniel Hudson, who tossed a five-hitter, belted his first big league home run and had a key two-run single in Arizona's 4-1 victory.
"We certainly don't have an issue creating opportunities," said Los Angeles left fielder Tony Gwynn Jr., who went 1 for 4. "It is just about getting that knock, getting that hit."
The Dodgers lost 3-2 to Ian Kennedy and the Diamondbacks on Saturday night, ending a five-game winning streak. Even during the surge, Los Angeles won 1-0 twice.
This time, the Dodgers couldn't overcome the performance of Hudson, who struck out three and walked none in his second complete game of the season.
"Their pitcher hurt us on both sides of the ball," Mattingly said. "The home run that puts them up two, then you get back in the game."
Then Hudson grounds a curveball between shortstop and third base with two out in the seventh to make it 4-1.
"Basically — three RBIs and you get beat by three," Mattingly said.
Hudson (10-5) earned his first win since he beat Kansas City on June 23 and improved to 9-1 in 16 starts after beginning the season 0-4.
The right-hander's impressive performance came one day after Kennedy earned his 10th win for Arizona. The two young pitchers continue to give Arizona a strong 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
Hudson connected against Ted Lilly (6-10) in the sixth, then delivered another key hit in the seventh.
The Dodgers intentionally walked Xavier Nady and brought in Blake Hawksworth before Hudson came to the plate in the important spot. But manager Kirk Gibson resisted any temptation to hit for his workhorse starter, who has thrown more than 100 pitchers 15 times this season.
"I liked the matchup, honestly," Gibson said. "I know Hawksworth's good. Righties are better against him. But it's Daniel Hudson out there. The guy's very competitive. He's hitting over .300. ... And he wanted to finish the game."
Hudson's hit raised his batting average to .359. He leads all major league pitchers with 12 RBIs.
Mattingly did not second-guess himself.
"It is not one of those I will look back and say I shouldn't have did that," he said. "I know Hawk has to throw strikes. I couldn't give them another shot at Teddy. I think I would do that every time."
Hudson retired his first nine batters and his last eight, striking out Aaron Miles to end the game. Hudson's first career complete game came on June 17 against the Chicago White Sox, who traded the Virginia native to Arizona last year.
The Diamondbacks took two of three in the series.
Lilly struck out five of six batters in one stretch, but the exception was Ryan Roberts, who hit a changeup in the second inning for his 12th homer. He retired 11 in a row after Roberts' homer, five via strikeout.
"It kind of feels like another pitcher's duel that I lost," Lilly said. "What I am thinking is eventually I am going to have to win one of these."
Hudson's line drive just cleared the fence in left in the sixth, and the Dodgers responded in the seventh.
Kemp led off with a single and Mattingly called for the hit and run with James Loney at the plate. Loney hit a soft line drive off the glove of shortstop Stephen Drew as he charged toward second, putting runners at first and third with one out.
Hudson nearly escaped the jam after Juan Uribe fouled out to first. But Kemp scored on a wild pitch before Rod Barajas grounded out to first to end the inning.
Arizona put it away with two runs in the seventh, loading the bases with the help of two intentional walks. After Chris Young singled and was sacrificed to second by Stephen Drew, Roberts was given a free pass by Lilly and Miguel Montero grounded out to put runners at second and third.
That's when Mattingly chose to intentionally walk Nady and bring in Hawksworth to pitch to Hudson.
NOTES: Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal, in a 3-for-34 slump since coming off the disabled list, was replaced in the lineup by Jamey Carroll. Furcal flew out as a pinch hitter in the eighth ... Arizona pitchers have four homers this season. ... In 32 starts since he was traded to the Dodgers, Lilly never has walked more than two in one game. He walked two Sunday, both intentionally. ... Hudson improved to 17-6 since coming to Arizona in the trade that sent Edwin Jackson to the White Sox. .. Arizona opens a four-game series against Milwaukee on Monday.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lack-of-runs-haunts-dodgers-again-in-4-1-loss