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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:08 p.m., Sunday, April 12, 2009

MLB: Dodgers beat Haren, Diamondbacks 3-1 behind Wolf

ANDREW BAGNATO
AP Sports Writer

PHOENIX — Randy Wolf tossed two-hit ball into the eighth inning, outpitching Dan Haren to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 today.

With Chase Field's roof open on a dazzling afternoon, Wolf (1-1) helped the Dodgers take two of three in an early-season series between teams expected to contend in the NL West.

The left-hander gave up a hit to his first batter, Felipe Lopez, who doubled over center fielder Juan Pierre's head. Lopez scored on a sacrifice fly by Stephen Drew, but that was all the Diamondbacks could muster.

Wolf, who returned to the Dodgers as a free agent last winter, retired 16 straight from the second to the eighth, when Chad Tracy led off with a single.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre brought in Hong-Chih Kuo, who retired the side. Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

Wolf walked two and struck out five.

The Dodgers tied it at 1 on an unusual play in the second.

Los Angeles had Andre Ethier on third base and Pierre on second with one out when Wolf hit a line drive that was caught by Haren (0-2). He wheeled and threw to Lopez, who tagged Pierre for an apparent inning-ending double play.

Ethier was running on contact, and he crossed the plate before Pierre was tagged out. The Diamondbacks left the field, apparently thinking the run didn't count.

But the umpires said it did — and by then it was too late for Arizona to appeal that Ethier had failed to tag up.

Wolf was credited with an RBI on the play, which was recorded as a 1-4 double play.

Adding to the confusion, the correct score — Arizona 1, Los Angeles 1 — wasn't posted on the scoreboard until the Diamondbacks came to bat in the bottom of the inning.

There was no debate about the Dodgers' second run. James Loney singled to score Rafael Furcal, who had walked and moved to second on a walk by Manny Ramirez.

The Dodgers made it 3-1 in the ninth on Matt Kemp's double off Jon Rauch, which scored Russell Martin from first.

Haren turned in his second strong outing of the season but has only two losses to show for his efforts. He gave up two runs in six innings, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out two.

In his first start, Haren allowed one run in seven innings but lost 3-0 to the Colorado Rockies.