Diamondbacks maintain NL West lead with win over Dodgers
Aug 30, 2018, 10:50 PM
Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig (66) is tagged out by Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Robbie Ray as Puig tried to advance to second base following a throwing error on his ground ball during the second inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES — David Peralta hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning and the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Thursday night in the opener of a pivotal series.
The loss snapped the Dodgers’ five-game winning streak, which they had put together against last-place San Diego and Texas. They struck out 15 times, including four by Chris Taylor.
The teams were playing each other for the first time since May 9. Arizona leads the season series 9-4.
Robbie Ray (4-2) gave up one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked two to earn his first victory since June 23 at Miami. The left-hander hadn’t figured into a decision in seven consecutive starts since July 20, the longest streak in franchise history by a starter.
Brad Boxberger got the final two outs in the ninth to earn his 31st save in 37 chances. He struck out Taylor and got Yasiel Puig on a called third strike.
Peralta sent his 26th homer into right field on the first pitch from Rich Hill with two outs, giving Arizona a 3-0 lead.
Hill (6-5) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. The left-hander struck out seven and walked none.
The Dodgers’ lone run came on Manny Machado’s 33rd homer in the sixth.
Dodgers reliever Caleb Ferguson pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth. After giving up three consecutive one-out singles, he struck out John Ryan Murphy and pinch-hitter Christian Walker lined out to right to end the inning.
Los Angeles had the potential go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the inning, but Matt Kemp grounded into an inning-ending double play with runners on the corners.
TRAINER’S ROOM
D-backs: RHP Shelby Miller (right elbow tightness) will throw to 125 feet early next week. … OF Jarrod Dyson (right groin strain) is headed to Triple-A Reno for a rehab assignment.
Dodgers: Reinstated RHP Josh Fields (right shoulder inflammation) from 60-day DL.
UP NEXT
RHP Zack Greinke (13-8, 2.93 ERA) goes for the D-backs. He is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA in his last five starts against his former team. The Dodgers send LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-1, 2.18) to the mound. He is 3-3 with a 3.90 ERA in 12 career starts against Arizona.
