Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 3
PHOENIX -- Matt Kemp had four hits and three RBIs in his first start in eight weeks, and Juan Uribe and Adrian Gonzalez homered as the Los Angeles Dodgers closed in on the National League West title with a 9-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Kemp had two doubles and two singles before leaving for a pinch runner in the seventh inning. He doubled home the first two runs of a four-run first inning and singled in a run in the fourth for an 8-0 lead.
The Dodgers (87-64), who were in last place and 9 1/2 games behind the D-backs on June 23, dropped their magic number to clinch the division title to two. They would win the NL West with a victory in either of the final two games of the series.
Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke gave up two runs and six hits in six innings to win his seventh straight decision. Greinke (15-3) has not lost in 10 starts, since a 5-2 defeat to Cincinnati on July 25, the last time he gave up more than two runs.
Uribe capped the first inning off Patrick Corbin (14-7) with a two-run homer, his 12th, and Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the third, his 21st. Uribe had a three-homer game against the D-backs in an 8-1 victory Sept. 9.
Aaron Hill had two hits, including a home run, and Paul Goldschmidt added two hits and scored a run as Arizona (76-74) had its three-game winning streak broken.
Corbin gave up six runs on seven hits in two-plus innings, his shortest outing of the season. He has given up 23 earned runs in his past 26 2/3 innings, and his ERA rose to season-high 3.17.
Mark Ellis had two hits and an RBI for the Dodgers, and Michael Young drove in a run.
Kemp, making his first start since July 21, doubled on the third pitch he saw from Corbin, knocking the ball into the left field corner to drive in two runs in the first inning. Uribe hit his homer two pitches later for a 4-0 lead.
Greinke gave up singles to Adam Eaton and Aaron Hill to lead off the bottom of the first before retiring the next nine.
The Dodgers knocked Corbin out of the game in the second inning, when Gonzalez homered after a walk to Ramirez.
NOTES: Kemp was cleared to play after showing no signs of hesitancy while running the bases in pregame drills, manager Don Mattingly said. "That was kind of a good surprise today," Mattingly said. Kemp struck out as a pinch hitter to end a 2-1 loss Monday. ... Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw, originally scheduled to start Wednesday, was pushed back and will make his next start Saturday, Mattingly said. "We knew he was only going to get two more starts the rest of the year. We felt it was the right time," Mattingly said. Kershaw, 14-9 with a 1.94 ERA in 223 innings, is now in line to start the first game of any Dodgers' playoff series. "That would be a benefit, just by lucky chance it would happen," Mattingly said with a straight face. ... Arizona LHP Matt Reynolds (left elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery early next week. Dr. James Andrews will perform the operation. Reynolds has been on the disabled list since early June. ... The Dodgers again played without OFs Andre Ethier (ankle) and Carl Crawford (back), although Mattingly said Crawford appeared close to returning.
