LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers have plenty of candidates for a three-homer game on their roster. Juan Uribe is pretty low down that list, yet he muscled up Monday in a memorable display.
Uribe belted three of the Dodgers’ six home runs in Los Angeles’ 8-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Los Angeles third baseman has 10 homers on the season, and Monday’s performance equaled his output from his previous 54 games combined. He hit only two homers all of last season in 66 games for the Dodgers.
“It was a nice night for him, and the boys had a lot of fun with him,” Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. “Juan came in to spring in great shape and has come in hitting well since spring training. He’s always been a good defender, but last year opened our eyes to how good of a teammate he is.”
The Dodgers ended their four-game losing streak, their longest skid since an eight-game run from May 1-10.
Uribe’s first home run came in the second inning on the back end of back-to-back solo home runs off Diamondbacks starter Randall Delgado (4-6). Andre Ethier started the homer barrage with his 12th of the season, and Uribe followed to make it 2-0.
Adrian Gonzalez went deep in the third, a two-run shot that was his 20th homer of the year. One out later, Uribe’s second home run made the score 5-0.
After Arizona scored in the top of the fifth, Hanley Ramirez led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, his 18th homer of the season. Uribe added his final home run in the inning to make it 7-1.
Uribe wasn’t even the most excited member of his team. After each home run, Ramirez and Yasiel Puig mobbed him in celebration.
“This is what happens with teammates,” Uribe said. “When other people do something great, I am happy for them, too.”
The six home runs were the most hit by the Dodgers since Sept. 18, 2006, when they hit seven against the San Diego Padres.
For good measure, Uribe legged out an infield single to drive in a run in the seventh inning, giving the Dodgers their eighth run of the night. Uribe finished the game 4-for-4 with four RBIs.
“When I go to bat, I don’t think about home runs,” said Uribe when asked if he were disappointed about not hitting a homer in his fourth at-bat. “I just want to put a good swing on the ball.”
It was a rough outing for Delgado, who gave up Uribe’s first two homers. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.
“I can only think positive and move on,” Delgado said. “Maybe it was just a bad night. We can’t give regret.”
The rough outing was unusual for Delgado, who allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his previous 15 starts.
When asked what he was thinking after the second home run, Delgado said, “It’s hard to keep your mind off of, ‘Maybe I should have thrown a different pitch,’ but I know I tried my best and I have to just keep going and keep working.”
Uribe’s offense helped give Ricky Nolasco (13-9) his seventh straight win. Nolasco improved to 8-1 since being acquired by the Dodgers on July 6 in a trade with the Miami Marlins.
Nolasco pitched 6 2/3 innings and yielded just six hits and one run, which was unearned. He struck out six and received a standing ovation when he departed.
“He can spin the ball pretty good, and he kept the hitters off-balance early,” Mattingly said. “He was throwing zeros all night. I think he’s excited about being here, pretty much in his hometown.”
The early run support provided plenty of comfort for Nolasco, who was never in serious trouble until the top of the fifth inning. Didi Gregorius doubled home Martin Prado, who reached on a two-base error, to make it 5-1.
NOTES: The back-to-back home runs in the second inning marked the fourth time the Dodgers have accomplished the feat this season. The last time was Aug. 30 in a 9-2 win versus San Diego. … Monday was the 23rd sellout of the season for the Dodgers, the most since 2004 when they had 28. … Arizona RHP Trevor Cahill (6-10, 4.35 ERA) faces Dodgers RHP Edinson Volquez (9-11, 6.05) on Tuesday in the second game of the three-game series.