here during the game the other day in Detroit, Burns

LOS ANGELES -- Undone by another rocky start, Scott Kazmir refused to link his latest disappointment to his first-inning struggles earlier this season.I feel like Im past that, said Kazmir, who gave up two runs in the first, including Jean Seguras leadoff home run, and another in second Saturday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 4-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks.I dont think of it like, `Here we go again,the veteran left-hander said. Thats not a good way to approach it. Its unfortunate. Its frustrating for sure. Having to always work through that first inning to put yourself in a good position. Still confident out there.Kazmir (9-4) gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander entered the game as the National Leagues only undefeated pitcher -- minimum of 10 starts -- since May 14, going 7-0 with a 3.73 ERA in 13 starts.Segura led the Diamondacks out of the starting gate by hitting Kazmirs third pitch of the game over the fence for his fourth leadoff home run of the season.I felt like the first two pitches were nice and smooth, good direction, good delivery, and then I tried to overthrow that third one, Kazmir said. Not as sharp early, but once I made adjustments, use my cutter a lot more in the late innings I was able to get some quick outs.With a 3-0 lead, Braden Shipley settled into give the Diamondbacks six scoreless innings, and the Dodgers fell for only the second time in six games. They dropped two games behind division-leading San Francisco.We just let this one slip away, Kazmir said. Giving up three early in the same, really setting the tone. Shipley, he was great out there. You have to tip your cap to him. He really pitched well out there.Los Angeles went 17-9 from June 26 through Friday night, and had cut the Giants division lead from 6 1/2 games to one since the All Star break.Shipley (1-1), Arizonas 2013 first-round draft pick, held the Dodgers to five hits in his second career start as the Diamondbacks won for only the third time in 11 games. He struck out four and walked one.I was just sticking with my plan, you know, staying down in the zone, using my sinker effectively, said Shipley, who got 11 ground-ball outs five days after surrendering three home runs in his major league debut. Thats kind of what I knew that I had to do coming into the night. Just work down in the zone, and mix pitches, and use that sinker.Segura added an RBI double in the second, and is hitting .396 (19 for 48) over his last 12 games.Joc Pederson hit his 15th home run, and second in two nights, with two outs in the ninth inning for Los Angeles. Corey Seager drilled his 30th double of the season with two outs in the third, tying the Dodgers rookie record for doubles set by Eric Karros in 1992.You never like losing, but offensively the scorecard doesnt really show the quality of our at-bats, said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. I think our guys competed, squared the baseball up, but didnt have a whole lot to show tonight.Brandon Drury singled home Phil Gosselin with two outs in the seventh for Arizonas final run. Gosselin had been called out stretching a single into a double, but the Diamondbacks challenged the call and it was overturned after a 1-minute, 27-second review.TRAINERS ROOMDiamondbacks: Zach Greinke pitched three innings in a rehab start Friday night in an Arizona rookie league game interrupted by a thunderstorm. Greinke, who threw 52 pitches, is expected to make one more minor-league start before returning to the Diamondbacks in 10 days or so, said Manager Chip Hale. ... Arizona sent LHP Zac Curtis to Double-A and designated RHP Josh Collmenter and INF-OF Micahel Freeman for assignment on Saturday.Dodgers: Los Angeles will make a decision in the next few days whether to activate INF Kike Hernandez (left ribcage inflammation). ... Nothing new on LHP Clayton Kershaw, who continues to rehab with core and back strengthening exercises. He has not resumed any baseball activities with no timetable for a return, said Manager Dave Roberts.UP NEXTDiamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin will make his fourth start of the season against the Dodgers in the series finale on Sunday. Corbin is 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA this year, but has a 2-1 record with a 3.25 ERA in five career starts at Dodger Stadium.Dodgers: RHP Bud Norris (6-9,4.27) makes his seventh start for the Dodgers since being acquired from Atlanta in June. Over his last 10 games -- including nine starts -- Norris is 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA, striking out 59 batters in 53 innings. Air Max 97 Australia . JOHNS, N. Cheap Nike Air Max Tn Australia . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. http://www.outletairmaxaustralia.com/air-max-270-buy-australia.html . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Nike Air Max 98 Australia . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Air Max 270 Flyknit Australia . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Royals didnt have a postseason prayer. Until, that is, a praying mantis showed up in their dugout.Since then, the defending World Series champions are playing like world beaters.Perhaps the Royals can thank Billy Burns for their 9-1 run. Hes a spare outfielder, stuck on the bench almost all the time since being traded over from Oakland last month.But Burns holds an important side job: Hes the caretaker of Rally Mantis Jr.I think the only reason Im taking care of him is I actually care about him not dying, Burns said. So people are like, `You can take care of him. I spent one night researching, how to take care of him, so hopefully we can keep him alive.See, the Royals were sputtering, their playoff hopes fading, when a praying mantis appeared in their dugout at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 6. They beat Toronto that night and suddenly the bug-eyed insect with a triangular head had a new home.Really, who needs a Rally Monkey when you have a Rally Mantis?The first mantis crawled up on my hat and just kind of camped out there for a while, Burns said. Some of the guys just thought it was funny.Adopted by the team, it was christened the Rally Mantis and Kansas City went on to win five of six. Their new mascot traveled with the club to Minnesota, but died on Aug. 13 -- the Royals lost that day, too.The first one lasted about five or six games, Burns said.dddddddddddd The first one was on his way out. The first one was dying when we found him.Then Junior showed up.The second one flew in out of nowhere during the game the other day in Detroit, Burns said.Burns said shortstop Alcides Escobar and pitcher Edinson Volquez used the help of a fan to catch him. After that, with extra time on his hands, Burns took over.The Royals swept their first three-game series in Detroit since 2008 and Rally Mantis Jr. boarded the charter flight for Kansas City, where the Royals beat the Twins on Thursday night to move back over .500. The surge has moved them back into the AL wild-card race.Before the victory over the Twins, Rally Mantis Jr. was moved into what Burns described as his new upgraded cage with plants and food.Right now hes got some crickets hanging out in there, some moths, Burns said. Weve been catching bugs whenever we see them.There was a photo opportunity with Junior in his new home this week and at least a half-dozen photographers swarmed to shoot Kansas Citys latest celebrity. Royals fans are showing up with mantis masks and making Rally Mantis Jr. posters.The club leaves Sunday night for Miami. Rally Mantis Jr. will make the trip.Hes part of our team now, Burns said. Hell be going everywhere. ' ' '