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Yasiel Puig stars in Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over Diamondbacks

Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrates with teammates Carl Crawford (3), Adrian Gonzalez (23) and Andre Ethier (16) after hitting a three-run home run against the Diamondbacks in the sixth inning Sunday.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
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Yasiel Puig put on his Sunday best against the worst team in the major leagues.

Puig had a show-stopping throw and a mighty impressive home run, the top highlights of the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Josh Beckett and four relievers combined on a three-hitter as the first-place Dodgers took an eight-game lead over Arizona in the National League West -- with 10 days still left in April.

Beckett worked five innings, giving up no runs and one hit while striking out seven. He extended his string of consecutive scoreless innings to 11 and lowered his earned-run average to 2.57.

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Closer Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth inning for his seventh save.

The game was scoreless into the sixth inning, when Carl Crawford tripled home Dee Gordon with the Dodgers’ first run. With two out and first base open, the Diamondbacks walked the left-handed Adrian Gonzalez so right-hander Josh Collmeter could pitch to the right-handed Puig.

Puig responded with his second home run of the season, this one measured at 422 feet. The three-run homer gave the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

In the second inning, Arizona’s Miguel Montero hit a line drive into the right-field corner, an apparent double. But Puig charged hard, retrieved the ball, turned and threw out Montero at second base –- then raised his arm toward the sky to celebrate. Puig leads NL outfielders with four assists, including one in each of his last three games.

After taking two of three games against the last-place team in the NL West, the Dodgers on Monday open a four-game series against the last-place team in the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies.

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