As Matt Kemp rightfully pointed out after the game, every game is big the second half, no matter who it is the Dodgers are playing. But this game, and this series, are bigger than others. Nothing like a head-to-head matchup between the leaders to kick off the second half. Dodgers finally got untracked offensively, hitting a season-high four homers — two by Nomar, his first two-homer game in six years; and one each by Kemp and James Loney, with Loney’s coming off Doug Slaten in the 11th inning and deciding the game. All four homers were BLASTED. Garciaparra’s first one broke a plate of food in the swimming pool. His second one landed 10 feet deep into the D-backs bullpen in left. Kemp’s was a towering drive that finally came down 10 rows deep in left field. And Loney’s was a line drive that landed 15 rows deep in right. … Big night for Jonathan Broxton, who looked every bit the part of a big-league closer in blowing out three consecutive D-backs hitters in the 11th. He struggled in both of his appearances as the Dodgers’ closer last year, when Saito had a minor injury. so this was a reassuring effort both for Broxton himself and for Joe Torre and Rick Honeycutt. … Dodgers go to 47-49 and tie the Snakes for the lead, with the Giants and Rockies seven back. This is a two-team race, folks, and it’s going to be fun to watch. Game 2 at 5:10 tomorrow.