Dodgers like their view of West

PHOENIX — Once around the horn for the Dodgers, and the journey was much like Juan Pierre touching ‘em all in the seventh inning of a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.

Electrifying, improvised and somewhat unexpected.

The Dodgers faced each of their National League West foes the last 11 games, winning nine and taking all four series, capped by a two-game sweep of the Diamondbacks. The key blow at Chase Field came when the slap-hitting Pierre snapped a 4-4 tie by belting a run-scoring triple and scooting home on an errant relay throw.

The victory momentarily distracted the Dodgers from the news that prize pitcher Jason Schmidt was placed on the disabled list because of inflammation in his shoulder.

Schmidt had insisted for weeks that he felt fine, even as the velocity on his fastball dipped to the low 80s. Although trainers said the injury isn’t severe, the time off will enable Schmidt to study his mechanics and the Dodgers to perhaps dispatch a search party to locate the dominant pitcher they thought they got when they signed him to a three-year, $47-million contract.

“The goal is to come back the way you were,” Schmidt said.

Judging from their first tour of the West, the Dodgers (10-4) appear to have returned this season at least as good as they were in 2006 when they earned a wild-card berth by tying the San Diego Padres for first place.

Since losing two of three at Milwaukee, the Dodgers swept three from the San Francisco Giants, took two of three from the Colorado Rockies, did the same to the Padres, and got in and out of Arizona with two victories.

“It’s early and a lot can happen,” Pierre said. “We didn’t face Arizona’s top pitchers [Brandon Webb and Randy Johnson]. But we’ve got as good a chance as anybody.”

Especially when the power-challenged Dodgers mix in a few extra-base hits. Pierre doubled as well as tripled, and Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra each drove in runs with doubles. While the Dodgers took advantage of nearly every scoring opportunity, the Diamondbacks had at least one baserunner in every inning but stranded nine and were two for 10 with runners in scoring position.

If ever a team looked as if it could withstand the absence of a top starter, it’s the Dodgers, who are getting solid starts and excellent work from the bullpen.

Brett Tomko battled despite giving up at least one hit in each of his five innings, a departure from his first start when he gave up one hit and no runs in six innings. Passing time a day earlier, Tomko played an arcade game in the clubhouse called “Big Game Hunter,” using a plastic rifle to shoot targets on the screen.

Then he shot himself in the foot during the game, making a throwing error on a slow roller by Chris Snyder that contributed to a three-run fourth inning and a 4-3 Diamondbacks lead.

But Pierre’s gap shots and four scoreless innings from the Dodgers’ bullpen turned the tide. Chad Billingsley (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings, Jonathan Broxton extended his regular-season scoreless innings streak to 14 over two seasons, and Takashi Saito notched his sixth save.

“Those relievers have been aggressive in the strike zone with good, quality pitches,” Manager Grady Little said. “They don’t self-destruct any.”

The same could be said of the entire team -- and the Dodgers can only hope that Schmidt doesn’t become a notable exception.

[email protected]