D-Backs fall on 11th-inning homer to Dodgers

The Diamondbacks’ offense returned from the All-Star break just as it left, with contributions enough to support a victory.

But the bullpen came back in the same form, too.

The D-Backs failed to hold a two-run lead for the third time in four games Friday, and once again it cost them in an 8-7 loss to Los Angeles at Chase Field in 11 innings, their third extra-inning game in their last five.

Bordow: D-Backs' uptight kids need to play loose

D-Backs notebook: Byrnes decides not to have surgery

Slideshow: D-Backs fall to Dodgers

James Loney hit a one-out home run in the 11th off Doug Slaten, the Dodgers’ team-high fourth homer of the game and third against the D-Backs’ relievers.

The bullpen gave up three runs in six innings while losing a 7-5 lead.

Nomar Garciaparra had two homers, one off starter Doug Davis, who lasted only three innings, and one off Yusmeiro Petit, the only hit Petit gave up.

Garciaparra’s second homer cut the gap to 7-6 in the sixth, and Matt Kemp tied the game off Leo Rosales with a home run with one out in the seventh.

The D-Backs (47-49), who scored seven runs in the first three innings while knocking out Hiroki Kuroda, did not score again despite 15 hits, their fourth consecutive game with at least 12 hits.

The Dodgers moved into a tie with the D-Backs for the NL West lead and will have a chance to drop the D-Backs into second place in the division for the first time since April 6 with a victory today.

“We battled. The offense had a good night,” D-Backs outfielder Chris Young said.

“When you get to a point where it is the 10th, 11th inning, the game can go to anyone. It’s just a matter of who gets the big hit. Loney did tonight.”

Dodgers third baseman Blake DeWitt saved the game with a diving stop and throw on Augie Ojeda’s hard grounder down the line with runners on the corners and two outs in the ninth, although the Dodgers waited until the 11th to respond.

Jonathan Broxton, moved to the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen because of an elbow injury to closer Takashi Saito, pitched a 1-2-3 11th for his first save of the season.

Broxton struck out two with a fastball that reached 97 mph.

Chad Tracy had his fifth consecutive multiple-hit game and had a hand in first- and second-inning rallies as the D-Backs overcame the Dodgers’ three runs in the top of the first.

Tracy had one of five consecutive singles in a four-run first inning and burned Dodgers center fielder Andruw Jones with an RBI-double to deep center in the second. Jones later left the game with flu-like symptoms.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and a walk for Arizona.