Dodgers fall to D’backs after Ryu’s shaky start

Ryu Hyun-jin of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a strike call by the umpire while batting against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning on Wednesday in Los Angeles. Ryu, now 13-6, gave up three runs in six innings. [AP/NEWSIS]

LOS ANGELES - With three straight losses hanging over his head and chatter that he should be shut down for the season, Patrick Corbin tuned it all out.

The left-hander allowed one run in six and one-third innings and got balanced offensive support in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

The victory moved the D-backs above .500 at 73-72, and gave them an 8-7 lead in the season series with Los Angeles, which will play at Arizona next week.

Paul Goldschmidt went 4 for 5, tying his career high for hits, and drove in a pair of runs as the D-backs snapped a five-game skid against the Dodgers and avoided a series sweep.

Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis said Goldschmidt would be his favorite to win NL MVP honors.

“He carried that team when they fought through injuries and didn’t really have a presence in the middle of the lineup,” Ellis said. “To do what he’s done from an RBI standpoint and a home run standpoint, and with the other things he does - great defense, great base runner - he’s one of the more underrated complete players in all of baseball.”

Goldschmidt had his second four-hit game and ninth multi-hit effort against the Dodgers this season, raising his average to .379 with three doubles, four homers and 16 RBI in 15 games.

Corbin (14-6) improved to 2-0 in three starts at Dodger Stadium. He allowed one run and eight hits, striking out two and walking two.

“I wanted to push him as far as I could. It’s good for his development,” Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. “Has he thrown better games? Yes, but he has a way of hanging in there.”

In Corbin’s past four starts against Los Angeles, dating to Aug. 1, 2012, he is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA.

“I got out of a lot of jams. It’s not a good way to pitch,” he said. “I feel fresh. I just want to finish the season strong.”

Brad Ziegler pitched the ninth to earn his 10th save in 12 chances.

Ryu Hyun-jin (13-6) gave up three runs and 10 hits - his second-most this season - while striking out one and walking none in his first start since Aug. 30.

The left-hander missed his scheduled start last Friday because of a stiff back.

Ryu has taken a loss in three of his past four starts. He pitched six innings or more for the 22nd time this season, but he allowed double-digit hits for the third time in 27 starts.

“He got off to a little bit of a shaky start and they didn’t miss any of the mistakes he threw the first couple of innings and were able to capitalize on that,” Ellis said. “But then he settled down and did what we ask all of our pitchers to do, keep us in the game and give us a chance to win.”

Willie Bloomquist was 3 for 5 with a run scored for Arizona. A.J. Pollock and Tuffy Gosewisch were 2 for 4 with a run scored. Arizona took a 2-0 lead in the first on Goldschmidt’s RBI single, the third in a row given up by Ryu to open the game, and Martin Prado’s double-play groundout. Gosewisch’s RBI double in the second made it 3-0.

Goldschmidt’s RBI single off Brian Wilson in the seventh scored Gosewisch, who doubled off Brandon League, extending Arizona’s lead to 4-0.

“We got a deep lineup,” Goldschmidt said. “A lot of guys contribute. That’s what it’s going to take for us to win.”

Los Angeles got its only run on Yasiel Puig’s 16th homer, a towering shot into the Dodgers’ bullpen in left, in the seventh. AP