Gäste-Forum » But Portland increasingly challenged

PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt homered and the Arizona Diamondbacks blew the game open late to prevent Los Angeles from clinching the NL West title with a 9-4 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night. Goldschmidts opposite-field two-run shot off Stephen Fife (4-4) in the first inning moved him into the NL lead with 34 home runs. Yasiel Puig hit a solo home run calculated at 442 feet for the Dodgers, who have lost five of six and get one more chance to clinch in Arizona in the series finale Thursday. The Dodgers Adrian Gonzalez was ejected after Michael Young was called out at the plate in a close play in the sixth inning. Brandon McCarthy (5-9) went six-plus innings to get the victory. Arizona broke open a close game with five runs in the eighth. Tim Federowicz drove in two runs with a home run and RBI double. McCarthy gave up two runs, scattering 10 hits in six-plus innings. Arizona led just 4-3 before blowing the game open against Belisario, the Dodgers sixth pitcher of the night. Adam Eaton had a two-run single, Aaron Hill and Martin Prado each an RBI double and Chris Owings walked with the bases loaded. Fife got the start in place of Clayton Kershaw, whose outing was pushed back three days to Saturdays game at San Diego to give him some extra late-season rest. Fife never made it out of the third, giving up a two-run homer to Goldschmidt in the first and a two more runs in the third as Arizona took a 4-0 lead. He allowed four runs on six hits in 2 1-3 innings, walking two and hitting two batters. Gonzalez was tossed by second base umpire Andy Fletcher in the top of the sixth inning after Michael Young attempted to score from first on Gonzalezs double. Young was called out by first base umpire Jim Joyce, catcher Miguel Montero taking shortstop Chris Owings relay throw and put down the tag although replays showed Youngs hand appeared to touch the plate first. Puig opened the game with a ground-rule double but was picked off by Montero after wandering too far off second. He atoned for it with a soaring home run far above the 413-foot sign in left-centre to lead off the fourth. The Dodgers added a run later in the inning on consecutive singles by Carl Crawford, Young and Gonzalez to cut Arizonas lead to 4-2. Los Angeles pulled within one, 4-3, in the seventh when Nick Punto led off with a single and scored from third on Federowiczs double down the left field line. Federowicz advanced to third with one out on Skip Schumakers sacrifice bunt but was stranded when pinch hitter Scott Van Slyke grounded into a double play. The Diamondbacks stranded 14 runners, leaving the bases loaded three times. Eaton hustled on what should have been a single to Puig in right and turned it into a double to start the Arizona first. After one out, Goldschmidt sent a 3-2 pitch to the opposite field for a two-run home run. Arizonas third run scored after Fife hit Montero with a pitch to start the third inning. Matt Davidsons single advanced runner to third, then Montero scored when Parra bounced into a fielders choice. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly tried to make a pitching change but was chased back to the dugout by home plate umpire Joe West because pitching coach Rick Honeycutt already had visited the mound in the same at-bat. Fife went on to walk McCarthy on four pitches to load the bases. Carlos Marmol relieved Fife and promptly walked Eaton to bring in a run and make it 4-0. Notes: Goldschmidts 34 home runs tie him with Steve Finley for seventh on the Arizona career list. ... In the last meeting of the teams this season, the Dodgers send RHP Ricky Nolasco (13-10, 3.36 ERA) to the mound Monday while LHP Wade Miley (10-10, 3.70). ... Arizona leads the season series 10-8. ... Gonzalez was ejected for the third time in his career, first this season. Greg Garcia Padres Jersey . 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Randy Jones Padres Jersey . The group of Slava Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Fedorov, & Slava Kozlov were a dominant force for The Wings at one point in the 90s.PORTLAND, Ore. -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. "First thing I said was, Weve still got work to do," he said of his postgame address. The 1-0 victory Sunday solidified Portlands hold on third place in the Western Conference with a 12-5-13 record and four matches to go. Portland is undefeated in its last four matches as it continues its bid for its first post-season appearance since joining Major League Soccer in 2011. Maximiliano Urruti gave Portland the win with his first MLS goal, a deftly executed flick in the 52nd minute that fooled Los Angeles goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. Urruti was acquired by the Timbers this month from Toronto FC, which had signed him in August from Argentinas top division Newells Old Boys. Galaxy forward Robbie Keane appeared to score the equalizer early in stoppage time but he was called offsides. Both Keane and Landon Donovan had an animated argument with officials while coach Bruce Arena shouted from the sidelines. Arena also confronted the referees on the field after the match. Afterward, Arena was diplomatic. "Its close, obviously. If hes (the linesman) right, credit to him," Arena said. "Weve been in a lot of games this year where the plays arent even close and they dont have them right. So if he had it right, more credit to him." Los Angeles (13-11-6) remained in fourth place in the West with the loss. The Galaxy are winless in their last four matches.dddddddddddd. Donovan returned to Los Angeles starting lineup after nursing a sprained left ankle that kept him out of the teams last MLS match, a 1-1 draw against the Seattle Sounders last weekend. But his streak of either a goal or an assist in seven straight matches was snapped against the Timbers. He had a dangerous free kick from the side in the 74th minute, but it was headed away by Portland defender Pa-Modou Kah. The match was played in a nearly constant downpour with gusty wind as the remnants of a Pacific typhoon rolled through the region. And it looked as though it was weighing on both teams. The Timbers had just two shots on goal in the first half, compared to seven for the Galaxy. But Portland increasingly challenged Penedo after the break. Shortly after Urrutis goal, Rodney Wallace fired a hard shot at Penedo, who dove and deflected it with his fingertips. Urruti was making just his fifth appearance in a league match. He played in two matches for Toronto before coming to the Timbers. Portland was coming off a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids last weekend. "These last two games we knew were very important," Timbers defender Jack Jewsbury said. "A week ago they were ahead of us and we knew these were going to be crucial matches for us to be in the playoffs and try and position ourselves. We feel good about it, but theres still some work to do." The Timbers and Galaxy played to a scoreless draw in Los Angeles on June 19, and the Timbers earned a 2-1 victory in Portland on July 13. ' ' '