Roundup of local golf news
PHOENIX — David Freese homered and had three hits, leading Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-4 on Monday night to maintain their lead in the NL West.
Manny Machado had two RBIs for the Dodgers, including a groundout deep into the shortstop hole with the bases loaded in the seventh inning that brought in Yasiel Puig with the go-ahead run. Los Angeles added three ninth-inning runs to stay 1½ games ahead of Colorado, which routed Philadelphia 10-1 at Coors Field.
The defending NL champions have won six of seven.
Freese finished 3 for 4 with two RBIs and is batting .375 since joining the Dodgers at the beginning of the month. Kershaw (9-5) pitched six innings, allowing three runs and six hits in his fifth start against Arizona this season. He struck out six and walked one.
Ketel Marte homered and drove in three runs, all off Kershaw, and A.J. Pollock went deep against closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth. The Diamondbacks, already eliminated from playoff contention, have lost four straight and eight of nine.
With the Dodgers trailing 3-2 to start the seventh, Yasmani Grandal walked and Puig came through with a pinch-hit single off reliever Andrew Chafin (1-6). Brad Ziegler came on and gave up a pinch-hit single to Max Muncy that tied it 3-all.
With one out, Freese singled to load the bases before Machado knocked in the tiebreaking run. The Dodgers scored three runs in the ninth on two wild pitches by Yoshihisa Hirano and double by Machado that fell just short of a home run.
Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray went five innings, allowing two runs and four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Arizona tied it at 1 in the bottom of the first with Eduardo Escobar’s single and Marte’s triple, which eluded Matt Kemp’s lunging catch attempt in right field. Marte’s homer landed in the seats in left-center in the third for a 2-1 Arizona lead.
Freese ripped a 1-1 fastball from Ray opposite field over the right-field fence, tying it at 2 in the fifth. That brought chants of “Let’s go Dodgers!” from the many Los Angeles fans in the Chase Field stands.
PLAYING TO WIN
Before the game, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said he told Rockies manager Bud Black that the Diamondbacks would do their best to try to beat the Dodgers, even if they rested a regular or two. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked how much he can appreciate that Arizona is still competing.
“We would expect nothing less from Torey and the organization over there,” Roberts said. “First class. They’re going to play 162 games, that’s what we’d expect.”
EJECTED
Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson was ejected in the top of the ninth by plate umpire Joe West after striking out swinging.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP JT Chargois was reinstated from the disabled list. He missed more than a month with nerve irritation. “I’m just proud of him to get back out there,” Roberts said.
Diamondbacks: 1B Christian Walker was partially hit in the face by a pitch from Kenta Maeda with two outs in the eighth and left the game with a bruise.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler (7-5) brings a 2.74 ERA into his scheduled start Tuesday against Arizona. Opponents are batting .198 against the rookie.
Diamondbacks: RHP Matt Koch (5-5) is set to face the Dodgers. He’s won each of his last three starts at home since May 28.
Gabe Plaza and Tony Solina carded gross score rounds of 69, 64 and 68 to win the gross score division of the Yuma Country Club Annual Best Ball Tournament on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Second place in the gross division went to Mark and Nick Pancrazi with a threeday total gross score of 204, while Paul Chamberland and Mike Blizzard carded a 206 gross score to take third place. Allen Hook and Bob Stull took the net division title with a three-day net score of 187, followed by Randy Gottlieb and Benjamine Gottlieb in second with a three-day total net score of 189. Third place in the net division went to Keith Neinast and Roy Puckett at 190.
The Yuma Foothill Rotary’s 3rd Annual scramble Golf Tournament will be played at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course on Saturday. The format is a four-person scramble. The cost is $60 per player. Entry forms are available at the Mesa Del Sol Club House. Contact Dit Blackburn at dietmarus@ yahool.com for sponsorship or additional information.
The next DHMGA monthly tournament will be played at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course on Oct. 6 and the format will be a blind draw for partners for the two-man best ball format. The tournament will have a shotgun start at 8 a.m.
Steve Parrish posted 3.71 points to win first place in the Mesa Del Sol Quota points play last Monday morning, followed by Hank Gray in second with 2.85 points. Bill Slade and Jack Parker finished third and fourth, respectively, followed by Garrett Mckeeman in fifth. The skin winners were Bill Dowding, Steve Parrish, Ed McCoy, Garrett McKeeman, Bill Slade, Dale Hoch, Bob Lauer, Sandy Blair, Steve Parrish, Bob Rehn and Hank Gray.
Randy Labrasseur teamed with Al Kalbus, and Christian and Carl Prickett for a scrambling 1-under-par 35 to win the Moose Lodge weekly play at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course last Tuesday morning. The two teams that tied for second place at even-par were Al Graham, Juan Batista, Diana Bird and Bert Black, and John Coffey, Bill Keeney, Bob Ewers and Ken Sparks. Last Tuesday at the Las Barrancas Golf Course, the Silver League gross score winners were Rollie Harris , Bill Taylor and Jack Joseph. The net score winners were Frankie Allen, Carl Riggs and Jim Forbes. The team winners were Larry Garrett, Larry Nicholson, Mark Hammons and Lyle Wheeler.
On Wednesday morning at the Foothills Executive Golf Course, the Men’s League gross score winners were Michael Costello and Bill Taylor. The net score winners were Buddy Hartley and Bob Selle. The team winners were Jack Costello and Al.
The seven winners in the “Pinky’s Pick” weekly mixed play at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course were Hank Browning, Marilyn Cotter, Wayne Gunion, Steve Parrish, Sam Samples, Garry Sletten and Al Johnson. Winning the “Next To Last Place” prize was Jack Parker.
Sand Blair carried Ray Butler to a first place finish in the gross division of the Mesa Del Sol MGA best ball Mixed play last Friday morning. Mary Kruse and Roger Brown were the net division winners, followed by Bob Blair and Tim Segrest in second and Garry Sletten and Bill Dowding in third. The skin winners were Roger Brown, Bill Dowding, Mary Kruse, Steve Parrish, Ray Butler, Bob Lauer, Sandy Blair and Bob Blair.
In the Mesa Del Sol Thursday Twilight League, Mike Daily and Robert Vaughan shot a score of 28 to win the two-person, designated driver, net best ball tournament. Dale Billingsley and a blind draw won low gross. Four teams tied for second net at 31. This week is the last event until April. The format is two-person net scramble with designated drivers. Cost is $30 per player and includes bar snacks after play. Play begins at 4:40 p.m.
Last Thursday at the Las Barrancas Golf Course, the Copper League gross score winners were Bill Taylor and Rollie Harris. The net winners were Michael Costello and Al Smith.