Dodgers Rally Late, Split Series with Snakes

On paper it didn’t seem like the Dodgers (13-17) stood a chance against the National League best Arizona Diamondbacks (21-9) with three players in the starting lineup recently being called up from AAA Oklahoma City; however, they found a way to win today’s game with a little help from the Arizona bullpen. After dropping the first two games in the series, the Dodgers salvaged a win last night with a 2-1 nail-biting victory.  This afternoon, they turned to Alex Wood, hoping to split the series.

2nd Inning

With one out in the top of the second, Austin Barnes hit a solo shot (his first of the season) to give the Dodgers an early 1-0 lead.

The lead would not last long as the Diamondbacks tied things up in the bottom half of the inning that began with a one-out single by Ketel Marte.  Two batters later, Jeff Mathis would walk followed by a single by Patrick Corbin that would tie the game 1-1.

6th Inning

Yimi Garcia would make his first appearance this season in the bottom of the 6th and face Paul Goldschmidt who would reach on a fielding error by Kyle Farmer.  A.J. Pollock would bat next and single to left field and, two batters later, Goldschmidt would score on a single by Marte to give the D-backs a 2-1.  Edward Paredes would replace Garcia and would hit Daniel Descalso to load the bases with only one out; however, he would get the next two batters out to avoid any more damage.

8th Inning

The Dodgers would break the game open in the top of the 8th that began with a lead-off walk to Chris Taylor.  Pinch-hitting Chase Utley would bat next and rope a line drive to center field to put two runners on with nobody out.  Matt Kemp would bat next and hit a bloop single that somehow found a hole to load the bases.  The D-backs would go to their NL-best bullpen and bring in Jorge De La Rosa who would face Cody Bellinger.  “Belli” would hit a sac-fly to center field to score Taylor and tie the game 2-2.  Austin Barnes would then come to the plate and, without even throwing a pitch, De La Rosa would balk to advance the runners to second and third.  Due to the balk, Barnes would be intentionally walked to load the bases once again.  Kyle Farmer would bat next looking to break the game open; however, the Dodgers would be handed a couple of gifts as De La Rosa would throw two wild pitches scoring Utley and Kemp to make it 4-2.  Farmer would then rope a base hit to left field to score Barnes and increase the lead 5-2, which would be the games final score as Ross Stripling and Kenley Jansen would toss scoreless 8th and 9th innings.

The Dodgers (14-17) have now won their first game this season when trailing after seven innings after going 0-13.  The Diamondbacks (21-10), on the other hand, have now lost their first game when leading after seven innings after going 17-0 and have also lost two consecutive games for the first time this season.  The Boys in Blue will grab their passports and head to Mexico to take on the Padres (11-21) in a three game series beginning tomorrow night at 6:10pm PST.

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