Taylor (slam, 6 RBIs), Dodgers drub D-backs

July 16th, 2016

PHOENIX -- The Dodgers opened the second half by picking up right where they left off. went 3-for-5 with a grand slam, his first career homer, and six RBIs to finish a single shy of the cycle in a 13-7 victory over the D-backs at Chase Field on Friday night. Los Angeles moved to a season-high 12 games over .500 and won for the eighth time in 11 games.
"We were playing good ball leading up to the break, but I felt a reset would be good and I thought the energy was there tonight," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Taylor rips slam for 1st HR, nearly hits for cycle
homered, collected three hits and drove in three runs, as the Dodgers pounded out 18 hits. won for the second time in three starts since being traded from Atlanta, allowing four runs on eight hits in five innings to help the Dodgers win their fourth in a row.
D-backs starter took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits in four innings. and both homered, but Arizona lost for the 13th time in 15 games.

"Offense did a great job there, they scored seven runs tonight, we should win this game," Corbin said. "It's frustrating that they did their job and I let them down."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Still starting short: Norris, burdened by a 37-pitch, three-run third, could only give the Dodgers five innings and left four for the bullpen. Since May 14, they've had only one starter other than throw a seven-inning start -- , seven innings, last Sunday.

"Norris labored throughout the game," said Roberts. "For him to scratch out five innings for us was big and to get him a win and us a win even bigger. It's a tough place to pitch."
Corbin's struggles continue: Corbin matched a season-high for the third time with seven runs allowed. The left-hander has allowed five or more runs in each of his past three outings and has had trouble keeping the ball in the park, allowing 19 homers in 19 starts. Corbin has a 6.58 ERA over his past 10 starts. More >

"He battled early," Arizona manager Chip Hale said. "We'll move onto the next one and hope he fares better than that."

Overshadowed on offense: In addition to Taylor, the Dodgers got three hits each from Kendrick and Puig. Kendrick had three singles and a walk in the leadoff spot, an RBI and a run scored. Kendrick just went 13-for-37 on the homestand and has hit safely in 17 of his past 18 games against Arizona. Puig drove in three runs and is 22-for-66 (.333) since coming off the disabled list June 21.

Three-bagger keys three-run third: D-backs center fielder laced a one-out triple to right-center field in the third, plating a pair of runs after singles by Corbin and earlier in the inning. It was Arizona's 35th triple, the most in the Majors. Bourn then scored on a groundout by Goldschmidt, putting the D-backs temporarily ahead, 3-2.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Taylor became the first Los Angeles Dodger, and only the fourth in franchise history, whose first Major League home run was a grand slam. The others were Chico Fernandez (1956), Irv Palica (1950) and Preston Ward (1948).

WHAT'S NEXT
Dodgers: faces his former team for the first time in his career Saturday in a 5:10 p.m. PT start. McCarthy is the first Dodger since Ted Lilly in 2010 to begin his Dodgers career 5-0. After throwing five scoreless innings in his first start this year, he had a rocky win (five innings, three runs) against the Padres last week..
D-backs:: takes the mound in the second of the three-game set at Chase Field at 5:10 p.m. MST. Bradley hasn't won since June 19, going 0-2 with a 4.30 ERA since then. He faces the Dodgers for the third time in his career. The right-hander allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings against them in a loss June 14.
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