Diamondbacks fumble back-and-forth game to Dodgers, baserunning outs prove costly

LOS ANGELES — The Arizona Diamondbacks played a more competitive game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday than on Opening Day, but outs on the bases and walks proved costly in a back-and-forth 5-4 loss.

The Diamondbacks hung with the Dodgers for seven innings. They took an early 2-0 lead, fell behind 4-2 and tied the game all within the first four frames.

Arizona pitchers retired 14 straight Los Angeles hitters at one point, but the Diamondbacks did not take advantage up until the Dodgers came up to bat in the eighth inning.

Dodgers prized free agent addition Kyle Tucker hit a go-ahead single off reliever Kevin Ginkel, and fellow big-ticket free agent signee Edwin Diaz closed it down in the ninth. Arizona stranded the tying run on second base to end the game at 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

“I think there were probably some opportunities we missed out on,” outfielder Alek Thomas said. “Just the way the game goes, but we just got to come through in those bigger moments.”

The Diamondbacks doubled the Dodgers’ hit total, 8-4, and chased L.A. starter Emmet Sheehan in the fourth inning. Thomas hit two doubles and Ketel Marte drilled his first home run of the season.

Ultimately, the D-backs had to play a cleaner game against this caliber of opponent to avoid the crushing blow late.

“This team will fight. We know that. It’s been a couple of tough games here,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re not very happy with what’s going on. We’ve got to get better.”

1 bad inning for Ryne Nelson

D-backs starter Ryne Nelson came out hot in the first inning, throwing up to 98.9 mph while striking out Shohei Ohtani and Tucker to start the game.

After two scoreless innings, however, Nelson got run over with four runs allowed in the third, starting with an Alex Freeland home run. Nelson then walked Ohtani and Tucker before Mookie Betts drove a three-run shot to right field to take a 4-2 lead.

Nelson felt he was trying to be “too fine” with two strikes and lost both hitters. After the walks, he had to come over the plate to Betts, but a fastball meant to be thrown on the inside corner leaked over the outer half.

“I think I was just trying to make too good of pitches in certain spots. It’s not like I was all over the place,” Nelson said. “Just an adjustment we’re going to have to make.”

Nelson responded well, retiring his final seven batters to somewhat salvage an ugly score line (4.2 IP, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 Ks). He drew seven whiffs with the fastball and three more on the slider.

“Four runs on two hits, just not throwing enough strikes,” Nelson said. “Two walks ended up being the difference in the game, so frustrated about that. Felt like I had the stuff to get a better result for the team.”

More outs on the bases for Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks ran into multiple outs on the bases for a second straight game.

It started with an ill-advised send from new third base coach J.R. House, which led to Pavin Smith getting hosed at home plate on a Thomas RBI double. That ended the second inning with a runner stranded in scoring position instead of Jordan Lawlar coming up with men on second and third.

Two innings later, House had a similar chance with Smith advancing from first to third on a Carlos Santana double but wisely threw up the stop sign. Thomas paid that decision off with a two-run, game-tying double, although Thomas over slid third base and was tagged out.

Thomas slide around the bag to avoid a potential tag, and he beat the throw but just could not hold onto the base due to his momentum.

“I should have just slid normal, but I was just trying to put pressure on the defense and make them make a play,” Thomas said.

Lovullo explained that he could live with that one, but the other three from the opening two games will need to be addressed.

“We’ve got to figure that out,” Lovullo said. “We run the bases very aggressively. We made an inning-and-a-third of outs in two games. That’s not D-back baseball. We take advantage of the right situations and advance 90 feet.”

Impressive debut from Jonathan Loaisiga

Reliever Jonathan Loaisiga made his D-backs debut after spending eight years on the New York Yankees. Loaisiga retired all four batters he faced (Tucker, Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith) with a strikeout, two ground outs and a pop-up. He only needed 14 pitches.

Oh, the irony

The home plate umpire on Friday was Cory Blaser, the same umpire who rung up Geraldo Perdomo on a low strike to end the Dominican Republic’s run in the World Baseball Classic earlier this month against Team USA.

The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System was not implemented in the WBC, so Perdomo could not challenge.

In Perdomo’s first at-bat, he greeted Blaser and worked a 2-2 count. Blaser called a high changeup a ball, but Dodgers catcher Will Smith challenged it. The call was overturned for a strikeout.

Home plate umpire Cory Blaser was trying to repay Geraldo Perdomo for the bad call in the WBC but the Dodgers had other plans pic.twitter.com/bsAGNLQjkO

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 28, 2026

In Perdomo’s third at-bat, Blaser called ball four on a 3-1 pitch, and Smith challenged again. Another call was overturned, and Perdomo ended up flying out.

The same umpire who rang Geraldo Perdomo up in the World Baseball Classic will be behind the plate tonight.

“That’s alright … everybody’s human.” pic.twitter.com/X3n2TEJ3pZ

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 28, 2026

Diamondbacks’ next game

The series concludes Saturday night at 6:10 p.m. MST.

Eduardo Rodriguez will pitch for Arizona, with right-hander Tyler Glasnow going for Los Angeles.

Catch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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