Haren goes eight innings, Diamondbacks beat Clayton, Dodgers 4-1

Haren, Diamondbacks beat Dodgers 4-1

PHOENIX — Dan Haren had his best outing in a month and the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a three-hit night by Manny Ramirez to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Friday.

Ramirez singled twice and doubled to improve to 13 for 24 in his career against Haren, but the rest of the Dodgers managed just three hits off the Arizona ace, including Matt Kemp’s home run in the fifth.

Haren (12-7) helped himself with an RBI single in Arizona’s four-run second inning off Clayton Kershaw.

After giving up 10 runs in his last two starts and 17 in his previous four, Haren held Los Angeles to a run on six hits in eighth innings, striking out eight, walking two and hitting a batter.

Kemp doubled off Chad Qualls to put runners at second and third with one out in the ninth, but Orlando Hudson struck out and pinch-hitter Mark Loretta flew out to right. Qualls got his 22nd save in 26 opportunities.

The Dodgers had just won two of three in San Francisco but have lost five of seven overall to remain five games ahead of Colorado in the NL West.

Kershaw (8-7) entered the game with a 1.06 ERA in his previous 10 starts but is winless in his last five outings. The Dodgers have lost all five of those starts. The four runs he allowed, all in the second inning, were the most he’s given up since May 12, 18 outings ago.

The 21-year-old right-hander struck out nine in just 4 1-3 innings but gave up six hits and walked four. He threw consecutive wild pitches to allow a run.

Home plate umpire Jerry Layne warned Haren and the Dodgers dugout after the Arizona pitcher hit Andre Ethier with two outs in the eighth, although it seemed illogical that Haren would do so intentionally since it brought Ramirez to the plate. Ramirez lined one to deep left where Trent Oeltjen caught it at the wall to end the inning.

The warning came after, in the seventh, Mark Reynolds was hit by reliever Ronald Belisario and Kemp was knocked down twice by high and inside pitches.

Reynolds drew a leadoff walk in the second, then scored from first when Miguel Montero doubled down the left-field line.

Kershaw walked Rusty Ryal, then Oeltjen singled to load the bases. Augie Ojeda beat out a double-play grounder as a run scored to make it 2-0.

Haren got his eighth RBI of the season with a single up the middle, then consecutive wild pitches allowed Ojeda to advance to third, then home, and Arizona led 4-0.

NOTES: Dodgers manager Joe Torre says RHP Chad Billingsley, who missed his last start with a left hamstring strain, had a good bullpen session on Thursday and could return to the rotation Monday or Tuesday. … Arizona has the second-best record in the NL West since the All-Star break at 15-12; Los Angeles is 13-15. … Kemp robbed Oeltjen with a diving catch in center in the eighth.