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Some bizarre, and big, moments in Dodgers’ 4-2 loss to Diamondbacks

Dodgers third baseman celebrates with catcher Tim Federowicz after hitting a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Diamondbacks to send the game into extra innings.
(Harry How / Getty Images)
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KEY MOMENT: In the blooper reels, this one will live on. The Diamondbacks had the potential winning run on third base in the ninth inning, and Dodgers catcher Tim Federowicz stood up for the intentional walk. But reliever Chris Withrow threw the ball over the head of a catcher standing up — yes, a wild pitch on an intentional walk. That would have been the play that cost the Dodgers the game, had Juan Uribe not forced extra innings with a home run in the bottom of the ninth. Instead, Aaron Hill’s two-run single off Chris Perez in the 12th inning won the game for Arizona.

AT THE PLATE: Hanley Ramirez, wearing a brace on the left hand that was hit by a pitch Wednesday, had a strikeout, two groundouts and a bloop single in four at-bats. Yasiel Puig, who walked four times in the first month of his major league career, walked three times on Friday.

ON THE MOUND: Zack Greinke, the Dodgers’ starter, gave up one run — a home run to Miguel Montero — in six innings. Greinke has given up six runs this season, five on solo home runs. He gave up one home run per 55 batters last season. That ratio is 1 per 18 batters this season. Greinke has made 16 consecutive starts in which he has pitched at least five innings and given up no more than two runs, the longest such streak since 1914.

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ON THE CLOSER: Manager Don Mattingly scoffed at questions about the status of closer Kenley Jansen, who needed 30 pitches over six batters to work the ninth inning on Thursday. “It should have been 1-2-3,” Mattingly said, since the first batter reached base on a strikeout/wild pitch and the next two batters were retired. In nine innings this season, Jansen has struck out 17 but has allowed 18 baserunners.

ON THE MEND: Catcher A.J. Ellis is not expected to return from knee surgery for three to five weeks, but he said he is “confident” he can beat that timetable. At 10 days past surgery, he said he can hit and squat pain-free.

UP NEXT: The Dodgers’ Dan Haren (2-0, 2.04) faces Arizona’s Mike Bolsinger (0-0, 6.00), making his first major league start. On the air: TV: FS 1, SportsNet LA; Radio: 570, 1020.

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