The Dodgers scored twice on botched double-play ground balls in the fifth inning Wednesday night and went on to beat the D-backs, 3-1, behind starter Alex Wood's seven innings and a five-out save from Kenley Jansen.
Arizona was unable to convert either one-out grounder by Chase Utley or Corey Seagerafter singles by Howie Kendrick and Joc Pederson. Shortstop Nick Ahmed drew a throwing error on Utley's grounder for one run and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt dropped Ahmed's relay throw for an error as the second run scored on what would have been an inning-ending double-play on Seager.
"Unfortunately it cost us a run and possibly the game," Goldschmidt said, "but hopefully it won't happen next time."
Arizona scored first when Ahmed, batting ninth, homered for the second consecutive game leading off the third inning. The Dodgers tied the game with one out in the fourth inning whenAdrian Gonzalez homered off starter Rubby De La Rosa, a former Dodger.
"The key is that [Wood] was working ahead and spinning the baseball," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Sometimes he likes his fastball, he trusts his fastball, but that third time through he really kept them off-balance with the breaking ball, the change, and that set him up for the fastball."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Bad blood simmering: After Justin Turner was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, jawing between both dugouts led plate umpire Brian Gorman to talk to both managers. Turner has been hit by pitches three times in the last week. The clubs have had an ongoing feud for years that included the Zack Greinke-Ian Kennedy brawl. More >
Bad blood simmering: After Justin Turner was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, jawing between both dugouts led plate umpire Brian Gorman to talk to both managers. Turner has been hit by pitches three times in the last week. The clubs have had an ongoing feud for years that included the Zack Greinke-Ian Kennedy brawl. More >
Nice pick: After allowing Ahmed's homer and a single by Jean Segura, Wood picked Segura off first base, a play that loomed larger one out later when he walked Goldschmidt before getting Welington Castillo to fly out. More >
Second time troubles: De La Rosa cruised through the first three innings. However, the second time through the order proved to be a bigger challenge for the right-hander. After not getting a hit the first time they saw him, Dodgers hitters went 5-for-9 the second time.
"I just think he worked quick, he didn't shake a lot, was hitting his spots, used his slider," D-backs manager Chip Hale said of De La Rosa. "Had some really good sliders early in the game to [Yasiel] Puig. I just thought he used all his pitches tonight. It was encouraging."
Unlikely pair of errors: It is surprising any time the D-backs commit a pair of erros in an inning, but it's even more so when it's Ahmed and Goldschmidt. Only Andrelton Simmonsand Brandon Crawford had more defensive runs saved among National League shortstops than Ahmed last season while Goldschmidt led all first basemen in defensive runs saved.
"We just uncharacteristically didn't play good defense," Hale said. "We usually make those plays." More >
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
With one out in the first, Goldschmidt hit a grounder to short. Seager threw to Utley at second and Utley's throw to first doubled up Goldschmidt. The D-backs challenged the play, and it was overturned to prolong the inning. Arizona, though, was unable to capitalize on it as Castillo followed with a groundout to second.
With one out in the first, Goldschmidt hit a grounder to short. Seager threw to Utley at second and Utley's throw to first doubled up Goldschmidt. The D-backs challenged the play, and it was overturned to prolong the inning. Arizona, though, was unable to capitalize on it as Castillo followed with a groundout to second.
With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Yasmany Tomas was called safe at first base by Mark Carlson on a grounder off Gonzalez's glove that was fielded by Utley, who threw back to Gonzalez at the bag. The call was overturned when replay showed that the throw beat Tomas.
In the fourth with two outs, D-backs outfielder Brandon Drury attempted to steal third base and was called out. The D-backs challenged the ruling, but the call stood after replay officials were unable to definitively determine if Turner's glove had made contact with Drury's foot before he reached the bag.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Dodgers challenged a neighborhood play at second base on Seager's grounder to Segura, claiming Ahmed wasn't on the bag. After a review, the call stood.
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: Robbie Ray will make his second start of the year Thursday night in the series finale with the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. MST. Ray showed some improved pitch efficiency in his first start aside from a 34-pitch third inning when he walked four batters.
D-backs: Robbie Ray will make his second start of the year Thursday night in the series finale with the Dodgers at 7:10 p.m. MST. Ray showed some improved pitch efficiency in his first start aside from a 34-pitch third inning when he walked four batters.
Dodgers: Ross Stripling has a tough act to follow. In his Major League debut last week in San Francisco, he was removed after 7 1/3 hitless innings when his pitch count reached 100. First pitch on Thursday is 7:10 p.m. PT.
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