Diamondbacks vs. Dodgers: An Exciting Back-and-Forth Battle!
It was a wild night in the desert as the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers clashed in a high-energy showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The game got off to a scorching start with the Dodgers' heavy hitters setting the tone, and the Diamondbacks responding with fireworks of their own. Here’s how the thrilling game unfolded:
Dodgers Come Out Swinging: Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman Go Yard!
The Dodgers wasted no time making their presence felt, as Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman launched back-to-back-to-back homers off Diamondbacks’ right-hander Merrill Kelly. Ohtani started the barrage with a towering full-count curveball that landed on the overhang in center field. Betts followed by sending an 0-1 slider soaring into the left-field seats, and Freeman capped the sequence by crushing a fastball beyond the pool area in right-center. Three pitches, three homers—talk about a rough start for Kelly, who’s still trying to find his groove after returning from the injured list.
Diamondbacks Answer Back in the First Inning!
But the Diamondbacks weren’t about to let the Dodgers steal the show. Corbin Carroll kicked things off with a bang, smashing an inside-the-park homer off the center-field wall. Dodgers’ center fielder Kevin Kiermaier gave it his all, leaping at the wall to make the catch, but missed, and the ball ricocheted back toward the infield. Carroll took full advantage, racing around the bases and electrifying the crowd. Following Carroll’s homer, Jake McCarthy and Joc Pederson kept the momentum going with singles, setting the stage for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Gurriel lined a shot to left that Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez nearly caught, but the ball tipped off his glove, resulting in a two-run double that tied the game at 3-3. Eugenio Suarez then put the Diamondbacks in front with a sacrifice fly, giving them a 4-3 lead after an explosive first inning.
Merrill Kelly Struggles Continue
Unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, Kelly couldn’t maintain the lead. The top of the second saw him give up singles to Max Muncy and Miguel Rojas, and after an Ohtani sacrifice fly, the game was tied again at 4-4. Freddie Freeman came through once more for the Dodgers with a two-out single that brought in the go-ahead run, putting the Dodgers up 5-4 as the game headed into the bottom of the second inning.
Torey Lovullo Stands By Paul Sewald Despite Recent Struggles
Meanwhile, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo continues to show faith in his reliever Paul Sewald, despite Sewald’s recent struggles on the mound. Sewald, who was moved from the closer’s role at the start of August, had a rough outing Friday night, giving up a three-run homer to the Dodgers’ Will Smith and a solo shot to Ohtani in a game the Diamondbacks narrowly lost, 10-9. Lovullo is determined to help Sewald get back on track, emphasizing the importance of having Sewald in the bullpen’s back end. “I know our best bullpen has him on the very back end,” Lovullo said, reiterating his commitment to giving Sewald every opportunity to compete. “I want Paul to be part of the equation because I know how good he is. So I'm trying to get him there.”
Sewald’s velocity has shown some promise, with his fastball averaging 92.7 mph, nearly a tick and a half above his season average. Lovullo also noted that Sewald’s slider looked sharp, but pinpointed his fastball location as the key issue. “That’s the one area that I feel like will come, and he needs to hone in on that,” Lovullo said. “When he’s hitting that top bar with a fastball that has the rise, he’s going to get a lot of swing and miss, a lot of popups, and weak contact.” Sewald has given up runs in each of his past three outings but had six consecutive scoreless appearances prior to this recent skid.
Looking Ahead: Key Matchups on the Horizon
The series continues with intriguing pitching matchups lined up. Sunday’s game features the Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt (8-7, 4.31 ERA) taking the mound at Chase Field, where he’s been particularly effective recently, boasting a 5-1 record in his last six decisions and helping Arizona to a 9-2 record in his last 11 starts. However, Pfaadt is coming off a tough outing against the New York Mets, where he allowed eight runs (six earned) over 4⅔ innings. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are yet to confirm their starter, but signs point to Justin Wrobleski, a left-hander currently at Triple-A Oklahoma City, who has made five major league starts this season with a 1-1 record and a 4.68 ERA.
Upcoming Games to Watch:
- Monday at Chase Field, 1:10 p.m.: Diamondbacks’ Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty (10-6, 3.07 ERA).
- Tuesday at Oracle Park, San Francisco, 6:45 p.m.: Diamondbacks’ Ryne Nelson (9-6, 4.22 ERA) vs. Giants’ Kyle Harrison (7-6, 4.22 ERA).
- Wednesday at Oracle Park, San Francisco, 6:45 p.m.: Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen (10-6, 3.87 ERA) vs. Giants’ Hayden Birdsong (3-4, 5.14 ERA).
The action-packed series between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers is just heating up, with plenty of drama, key performances, and potential turning points on the horizon. Keep an eye on these exciting matchups as both teams battle for supremacy in the NL West!
Login