National League
The Dodgers still aren't totally sure what to make of Hideo Nomo. And to be certain, pitching him against the Arizona Diamondbacks isn't the best way to get definitive answers.
Arizona clearly has established itself as the worst team in the National League, so the Diamondbacks can't be considered a good measuring stick. But even for what it was, Nomo's start Tuesday night had to be seen as another positive step in his quest to permanently rejoin the starting rotation.
Nomo, making his second start after being shut down for two months because of shoulder weakness, threw six solid innings and earned his first victory since April 21 as the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 8-2 in front of 35,078 at Dodger Stadium.
Robin Ventura hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh to break open what was a two-run game, and the victory, coupled with San Francisco's loss, boosted the Dodgers' lead in the NL West to 4 1/2 games.
Besides a major defensive gaffe behind him in Arizona's two-run fifth, Nomo (4-11) looked sharp and consistently threw strikes. Nomo left after allowing a leadoff walk in the sixth and allowed the two runs on five hits, walked two and struck out six to break a winless streak of 11 starts.
The Dodgers' rotation remains unsettled, as Jeff Weaver is the only pitcher they can count on for consistent success, so Nomo's continued success would be a huge positive. But even manager Jim Tracy admitted before the game that he wasn't sure what to expect from Nomo.
For the most part, Nomo provided reassurance. His fastball, boosted by Nomo's full-time move to pitching from the stretch, was consistently clocked in the mid-to-high 80mph range, and he generally kept hitters off balance with his split-finger.
The Dodgers opened the scoring in the third, with some significant help.
Cesar Izturis led off against pitcher Brandon Webb with a flyball to the right-field corner. Arizona's Danny Bautista ran over and reached for the ball just a couple of steps from the wall. The ball bounced off the heel of his glove, and Izturis slid safely into third and was awarded a triple.
Webb got Steve Finley to fly out and struck out Milton Bradley, and then Beltre chopped a ball to the left side. Instead of letting the ball go through for a likely ground out to third, Webb dove for the ball and stopped it, but couldn't get off a throw, and Izturis scored easily on the infield single.
In the fourth, Jayson Werth led off with a walk and moved to second on Cora's groundout. Brent Mayne then singled up the middle and Werth scored, aided when center fielder Luis Terrero overthrew home plate by at least 50 feet and hit the top part of the productive screen in front of the seats.
Arizona finally got to Nomo in the fifth, but they had help. Josh Kroeger led off with a sharp single to right, which then went under Bradley's glove for a two-base error that put Kroeger on third. Chris Snyder followed by lining the next pitch into left field to pull the Diamondbacks within one.
After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Alex Cintron blooped a single to center to tie the game.
The Dodgers answered in the bottom of the fifth, as Finley and Bradley led off with walks. With one out and both runners going, Shawn Green singled to center to score Finley. Werth followed with a bouncer to third and Bradley, running on contact, beat the throw to the plate for a 4-2 lead.
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