In a season full of wonder and surprise, the D-backs took a punch to the face Thursday night. With three home games against the struggling Reds left before the All-Star break, it's time to see whether it will have lasting effects or if they can pick themselves off the canvas.
The punch came in the form of an epic ninth-inning rally by the Dodgers on Thursday night against closer Fernando Rodney, wiping out a 4-1 lead, sending the D-backs to a third-consecutive one-run loss against the team they are chasing in the NL West and dropping them to 5 1/2 games behind.