LaRoche notches 100th RBI in D’backs’ 7-5 win over Dodgers, who clinch losing season

D’backs beat Dodgers 7-5 to stop 3-game skid

LOS ANGELES — Adam LaRoche homered and drove in three runs to reach 100 RBIs for the first time, Zach Kroenke scattered two hits over five innings to earn his first major league win and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-5 on Friday night.

The Dodgers, coming off a three-game sweep of Colorado, assured themselves of a losing season for the first time since 2005 after going to the playoffs the last two years. It will be the fourth time since 1990 they have finished under .500.

It marks the first losing 162-game season for outgoing Los Angeles manager Joe Torre since 1984 with Atlanta, when the Braves went 80-82. Backup catcher Brad Ausmus managed the Dodgers in place of Torre, who will end his three-year stint running the team on Sunday.

Ausmus was assisted by “bench coach” Jamey Carroll, “hitting coach” Russell Martin, “pitching coach” Mike Borzello and “bullpen coach” Jeff Weaver — all chosen by Ausmus. That gave Bob Schaefer, Don Mattingly and Ken Howell the night off.

Ausmus also managed the last game of the 2009 season, a day after the Dodgers had clinched the NL West title. They beat the Rockies that day.

The Diamondbacks ended a three-game skid as LaRoche set a franchise season record for RBIs by a first baseman.

Kroenke (1-0) allowed one run, struck out one and walked two in his first major league start and his fourth appearance overall.

Juan Gutierrez pitched the ninth to earn his 24th save in 27 chances.

John Ely (4-10) got off to a rocky start, giving up three consecutive hits that led to two runs to start the game and going downhill from there. He allowed seven runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings, struck out three and walked three starting in place of Clayton Kershaw, who was shut down for the season.

Chris Young doubled in Stephen Drew, who led off the first inning with a double, before Kelly Johnson singled up the middle to score Young and make it 2-0.

Arizona added three runs in the third. LaRoche had an RBI double and Mark Reynolds followed with an RBI single before Brandon Allen’s sacrifice fly made it 5-0.

The Dodgers got on the board in the fourth with Matt Kemp’s 26th homer, tying his career high set last year. It was his third homer in as many games.

LaRoche’s two-run homer with two outs in the fifth extended the Diamondbacks’ lead to 7-1.

The Dodgers added three runs in the sixth. Esmerling Vasquez hit Kemp in the torso with the bases loaded, forcing in Ryan Theriot, who walked to lead off. James Loney singled up the middle off Carlos Rosa with the bases loaded before pinch-hitter Rod Barajas’ sacrifice fly made it 7-4.

Notes: Martin brought the Dodgers’ lineup card to home plate and shook hands with Arizona manager Kirk Gibson. Martin sustained a right hip injury in early August that ended his season. … LaRoche became the sixth player in Diamondbacks history to top 100 RBIs. … C Konrad Schmidt made his major league debut for Arizona, singling to center field in his first at-bat. … Ausmus, who was injured most of the season and turns 41 in April, said he isn’t sure he’ll stay in the game.