Dodgers Win Instant Classic Over Diamondbacks
The Los Angeles Dodgers took on the Arizona Diamondbacks for Game Two of their four-game series on Friday night. Both offenses fought tooth and nail, as pitchers from both sides struggled. Roki Sasaki took the ball for the Dodgers in this one, looking to build off his first career win that came against the Atlanta Braves. For the Diamondbacks, Eduardo Rodriguez came into tonight’s matchup with a career six ERA in 24 innings pitched against the men in blue. It was safe to say this one was an instant classic as the Dodgers pulled away late with a 14-11 win.
Shohei Ohtani got things started with a lead-off double. The hit paid off as Freddie Freeman got the Dodgers on the board first with a sacrifice fly. Freeman continues his hot streak, hitting .464 in May, with three home runs and 12 RBIs. With the Dodgers unable to add more runs on the board, Arizona struck back massively, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 3-1 lead.
It did not take long for the Dodgers to get back into the game. Highlighted by a Kiké Hernández solo shot and Ohtani’s second double of the night, which resulted in a run, tied the ball game up. Sasaki dealt a clean inning. The Dodgers were looking to blow this one open and really give Rodriguez some trouble.
Once the top of the third arrived, Andy Pages delivered with two men on base, knocking in both. Before you knew it, Los Angeles brought home two more runs off a fielding error and capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly from Mookie Betts. The Dodgers held a comfortable 8-3 lead, it was time to hold onto that lead. It would be a tall task holding down a top-10 offense.
The signing of Sasaki has been an up-and-down ride. After allowing a run in the bottom of the third, Sasaki pitched a clean fourth inning. It wasn’t until he walked the first batter of the fifth inning that he was pulled from the game. He went just four innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out no batters. His season ERA now moves to 4.72.
Anthony Banda came in for relief, having a deja vu moment. After loading up the bases, Banda allowed his second grand slam in two weeks. In a flash, the game stood tied for the third time. Arizona took back the lead in the bottom of the sixth off a bases-loaded walk, while the Dodgers’ offense continued to be held in check since the third inning explosion.
The Diamondbacks added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning off a Ketel Marte home run. This was Marte’s second home run of the night, and Randal Grichuk hit his first home run of the year. What would this game be without dramatics, as the Dodgers tied things up, down to their final three outs? It wasn’t until, with two runners on, Ohtani capped off the inning with a humongous three-run shot, putting the Dodgers up 14-11. That’s all the Dodgers needed, as Arizona was set down in the bottom of the ninth. Now, the Dodgers look to go up in the series tomorrow night, with Dustin May getting the start and Corbin Burnes getting the nod for the Diamondbacks.
