The Dodgers took care of business against a couple Major League Baseball bottomfeeders earlier in the week to set up a showdown with the Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West. On Thursday, the D-Backs proved once again they aren’t a fluke.

Los Angeles fell two games behind Arizona, again, after a 3-1 loss at Dodger Stadium in the first of a four game set.

This time, the script was flipped.

Rich Hill gave up a 3-run shot in the fifth inning and the Dodger relievers put up zeros in the remaining four innings. That could bode well for L.A., however, given the shakiness of the bullpen is much more the norm than one bad inning from a strong starting pitching staff. The rotation still sets up nicely for the weekend, with Ryu going tonight, Kershaw taking the mound Saturday and Buehler finishing the series on Sunday.

The middle of the order was hardly unproductive (Turner/Machado/Kemp went 5-for-10), they just didn’t get the clutch knocks when needed (0-for-5 with runners in scoring position). Today is a new day, and three in a row this weekend would vault the Dodgers to a game ahead of the D-Backs.

Don’t panic, take a deep breath, and come out ready for the weekend.

First pitch is tonight at 7:10, and you can listen live to the KHTS high school football Game of the Week broadcast for all your Dodgers updates.

RELIEF: Help is on the way to the bullpen by way of Washington D.C., as veteran right-hander Ryan Madson was acquired in a trade today. They may have finally found their setup guy for the stretch run and postseason.

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