Dee Gordon turns key RBI man to lead Dodgers to 5-2 win over Arizona

Dee Gordon, All-Star second baseman, had been scuffling. He had three hits in his last 26 at-bats (.115 average). He looked a lot like a guy who never appeared in so many major league games.

After being given Friday off, Gordon returned looking on the refreshed side, collecting three hits and driving in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning Saturday to lead the Dodgers to a 5-2 victory over the Diamondbacks.

A Dodger Stadium crowd of 50,823 saw the Dodgers break open a 2-2 game with three runs in the eighth. Hanley Ramirez, who had only two hits in his last 23 at-bats (.087), doubled in two more.

The victory maintained their two-game lead over the Giants, who won earlier, in the National League West.

Hyun-Jin Ryu started for the Dodgers and for most of the night appeared to have things well under control.

Ryu held the Diamondbacks scoreless through six innings, protecting a 2-0 lead.

In the seventh inning, however, he wobbled and Arizona cashed in to tie the score. Aaron Hill opened the inning with a single and Cody Ross doubled him home.

Ryu’s pitch count was rising, but Manager Don Mattingly elected to keep him in the game. Ryu got the next two outs, but pinch-hitter A.J. Pollock bounced a hit between third and short to score Ross with the tying run.

That ended the night for Ryu, who threw 114 pitches in his 6 2/3 innings. He gave up the two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out nine.

The Dodgers took the 2-0 lead in the first inning against right-hander Chase Anderson. Gordon led off with a double down the first base line and Adrian Gonzalez crushed a two-run homer.

It was the 20th home run of the season for Gonzalez, the eighth time in his last nine seasons he’s had at least 20.

The Diamondbacks loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning and, mirroring their hosts, failed to score. Carl Crawford made a nice running catch on a Tuffy Gosewich line drive to help hold Arizona at bay.

After a Gordon infield single in the third inning, the Dodgers never did get to Anderson again. He retired 10 consecutive batters to complete his outing.

Thirteen consecutive Dodgers had been sent down when Juan Uribe opened the eighth inning with an infield hit against right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson. After Joc Pederson flied out to the wall in left, pinch-hitter Justin Turner sent a bouncer to Hill at third.

But pinch-runner Roger Bernadina -- just added to the roster Saturday -- beat Hill’s throw to second base. Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier flied out, setting the stage for Gordon’s line single to center on a 3-2 pitch.

After Gordon’s single, reliever Will Harris came on and was greeted by the Ramirez double. That scored both Turner and Gordon. A fan interfered with the ball, but the blazing Gordon was already past third and allowed to score.

Anderson went six innings for the Diamondbacks, giving up two runs and four hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out six.

Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 41st save. Brian Wilson (2-3) picked up the win after holding the Diamondbacks scoreless in the eighth.