The Skinny: So much for the “don’t let Manny Ramirez beat you” strategy. Ramirez continued his almost laughable domination of Diamondbacks’ pitching with a 2 for 4 game, a home run, a double and 5 runs batted in as the Dodgers smacked around the Diamondbacks again, 7-2. Ramirez started the L.A. hit parade with a 3-run homer off of Arizona starter Brandon Webb in the 5th inning. The Dodgers added 4 more in the 6th, as Webb and reliever Juan Cruz both walked in runs, and Ramirez added a 2-run double. With two outs, Ramirez lifted a high fly ball to the right field warning track, which right fielder Justin Upton lost in the sun. That play summed up the Diamondbacks weekend in Los Angeles to this point. Upton atoned for a bad day otherwise by knocking in two runs with a single in the top of the 9th, supplying all of the Diamondbacks’ offense.

Where is the real Brandon Webb?: Webb pitched well until the 5th, but his line looks bad again. He lasted 5 2/3 innings, gave up 5 hits and 7 runs, all of them earned. He walked 6, a new career-high, and has issued 11 free passes in his last two games. In 2004, Webb led the National League in walks issued with 119, but has never walked in a ball game before. He has now failed to pick up his 20th win in three straight starts, and his ERA has risen from 2.74 to 3.41 in that span. He has, in my opinion, completely squandered the National League Cy Young Award at this point.

On the other hand: Dodgers’ youngster Chad Billingsley continued to baffle the Diamondbacks as of late. In his last two starts against them, Billingsley has allowed only 2 runs in 13.1 innings, while striking out 15 and walking only 3.

Repercussions: The Dodgers have taken over sole possession of first place in the NL West by 1/2 game. The Diamondbacks had been in first place, or shared first place since the first week of the season, a span of 136 games.

When did Tony LaRussa start managing the Dodgers?: You could have sworn the over-managing Tony LaRussa was pulling the strings from the Dodgers’ dugout in the 9th inning, but alas, it was still Joe Torre. Torre used three different pitchers (Scott Elbert, Jason Johnson and Jonathan Broxton) in the 9th, after entering the inning with a 7-run lead.

Sarcastic Diamondbacks’ bright spots: The bullpen didn’t give up any runs. The Diamondbacks only struck out 13 times.

MLB.com : Recap | Boxscore

Here’s what others are saying about the first place Los Angeles Dodgers…

Dodgers take division lead [AZ Central]

D-Backs cede 1st place to Dodgers after 7-2 loss [East Valley Tribune]

Dodgers blast past Diamondbacks into first place [L.A. Times]

Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 2 [L.A. Daily News]

The series concludes Sunday, and Randy Johnson, who is experiencing shoulder soreness, has been scratched from the game by manager Bob Melvin. Rookie Max Scherzer will take the ball for the Diamondbacks in matchup with L.A.’s rookie left-hander Clayton Kershaw. First pitch is at 1:10 from Dodger Stadium.

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