The National League West second-place Dodgers beat the National League West last-place Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field in Phoenix to complete a three-game sweep.

Barely.

If you had been followed the game on radio or television and turned the game off in the sixth inning (and a good many undoubtedly did), you would have understandably assumed that the Dodgers, with a 9-1 lead over the worst team in the MLB, were a slam dunk to win.

…and you would have been wrong.

In yet another glaring example of why they play nine and that “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” the Diamondbacks scored one run in their half of the sixth inning to make it 9-2 and six runs in the bottom of the eighth, to make it 9-8. In fact, when the final out of the eighth inning was recorded, the Snakes had the tying run on third base.

It’s not that the lowly Dbacks nearly won the game; it’s that the defending World Champion Dodgers nearly lost it. I mean, how in the world can you blow a 9-2 lead, right? Yet the Dodgers came within one run of doing just that.

After 3.2 superb innings by 27-year-old Dodgers right-hander Tony Gonsolin, who is working his way back from a shoulder injury, and 2.1 combined innings of relief by left-handers Garrett Cleavinger and David Price respectively, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought in just-recalled (earlier in the day) right-hander Edwin Uceta, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning with one strikeout.

…and then the wheels fell off.

In the bottom of the eighth, Uceta allowed five runs on three hits and two walks before Roberts pulled him with only one out. He was replaced by fellow right-hander Victor González, who allowed one run on two hits with a walk. But it was a brain cramp by González that nearly cost the Dodgers the game.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Dbacks pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt hit a hard grounder to 41-year-old Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols, who was playing back on the grass. Instead of breaking for and being the first one to the bag, González was the last one there. Despite his sliding effort, Vogt just beat Pujols to the bag for an infield single to prolong the inning instead of being the final out. The Diamondbacks would tack on three additional runs to turn what should have been a 9-5 game into a 9-8 game before the final out of the inning was recorded.

Fortunately, Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen – who should not have even been needed – retired the Dbacks in order in the bottom of the ninth on seven pitches to earn his 18th save of the season

“It was a little tough at the end there, but a win’s a win,” Dodgers left fielder (and former Dback) AJ Pollock said after the game.

“I thought Victor was good, just didn’t cover first base, or he would have been out of that inning, and it just kind of snowballed right there,” Roberts said postgame. “Fortunately, he made the pitch to get out of it, and Kenley closed the door for us.”

As for those nine Dodgers runs, three of them came on a three-run home run by Pujols in the top of the third inning. It was Pujols’ sixth home run as a Dodger since joining the team on May 17 and the 673rd of his brilliant career to put him 23 behind Álex Rodríguez for fourth-most in MLB history.

Although no one wants to come right out and say it, had it been any team other than the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers probably would not have pulled off the three-game sweep this weekend. But a win’s a win, and they did … and needed to. Both the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants and NL West third-place San Diego Padres also won on Sunday. That being said, the Dodgers open a three-game series with the Friars beginning on Monday night and will host the Giants next Monday and Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Stay tuned…

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