Dodgers have taken off since brawl in June

LA on historic run; Arizona fades

LOS ANGELES — The last time the Diamondbacks were in this ballpark, during the second week of June, they were a first-place team, owners of a two-game lead in the National League West. Holding down last place in the division? None other than the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Things have changed over the past three months, with the Diamondbacks essentially, if not mathematically, out of the playoff picture, while the Dodgers have a whopping 11-game lead in the division.

During that series in June, the clubs were involved in a bean-ball war that led to a wild brawl that resulted in eight players and coaches being suspended.

From the day of the brawl through Sunday, the Dodgers have won 56 of 79 games, and Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson was asked if he believes it might have sparked their hot streak.

“I don’t think it hurt,” Gibson said. “With the position they were in, there’s probably been instances like that throughout the history of the game that have helped bring (teams) together.”

But Gibson pointed out all the other developments that helped the Dodgers. Outfielder Yasiel Puig’s emergence. Shortstop Hanley Ramirez’s health. The rotation’s improvement, including the acquisition of righthander Ricky Nolasco.

“It’s a combination of things and that was one of things,” Gibson said. “They were in a testy time, and they stood up for themselves. They came back and beat us that night. We beat them the next night. Since then, their record is up there in the history of the game. I don’t think you can look at any one thing. But it’s a combination of things, and that may be one of them. It’s part of what they’re going to look back on.”

Short hop

Learning curve

The loss of outfielder Adam Eaton in the first half of the season was costly for the Diamondbacks, who expected big things out of him from the leadoff spot.

But perhaps just as detrimental, Gibson said, was the time he lost in on-the-job training.

“After he plays every game, he acquires a better understanding of how to use his tools and when they’re applicable within any given game and at what time,” Gibson said. “He’s definitely missed out on that. He’s improved with experience, as he should.”

Eaton has swung the bat well over the past month, hitting .301with a .363 on-base and .469 slugging over 29 games.

The majority of his at-bats in that time have come in the No. 2 hole, where he has hit in front of Paul Goldschmidt, although Gibson has begun to mix him in at the leadoff spot more often over the past week.

Double-A Mobile advanced to the Southern League championship series by eliminating Mississippi three games to one in a best-of-five series. The BayBears will look to become the league’s first three-peat champs since the Montgomery Rebels from 1975 to 1977.