Diamondbacks’ late heroics spoiled by blown save in walk-off loss to Dodgers

LOS ANGELES — Not many games throughout a Major League Baseball season exist in a vacuum, and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 4-3 walk-off loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 10 innings on Tuesday was an example.

The Diamondbacks (26-23) used some late heroics to position themselves to snatch a victory after having been no-hit by Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto through six innings and shut out through seven.

Catcher Gabriel Moreno blasted a game-tying solo shot in the ninth inning off L.A. closer Tanner Scott for a 1-1 ballgame. Kevin Ginkel grinded through a 28-pitch bottom half and struck out Enrique Hernandez to strand two runners. And Corbin Carroll slammed a go-ahead, two run home run to left-center field off Scott in the 10th inning.

The Diamondbacks have been piling painful losses this season, games they let slip away, but this time it appeared they would devastate Dodger Stadium by swiping a comeback victory to extend Los Angeles’ losing streak to five games.

That’s where Monday’s 9-5 win potentially comes into play.

The D-backs had to burn closer Shelby Miller with the Dodgers having rallied against Ryan Thompson in the ninth inning on Monday. Shohei Ohtani represented the tying run on deck, and the D-backs opted to put the game away before he could have a say in it.

Miller only threw four pitches, but it was a second straight game in which he pitched.

He had never thrown in three straight games until Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks received five innings with one earned run from starter Ryne Nelson, who worked off a pitch count having been thrust back into the rotation from the bullpen for the injured Eduardo Rodriguez.

Juan Morillo, Kendall Graveman, Jalen Beeks and Ginkel already threw. So, there really was no other consideration than running with Miller again. Scott McGough, Christian Montes De Oca (who had yet to debut) and Thompson were the only other pitchers in the bullpen.

It didn’t work. Max Muncy ended up hitting a walk-off sacrifice fly to end the tug-of-war.

“ I think it had a big impact on today,” manager Torey Lovullo said of using Miller on Monday. “Having to use him to save that game was probably something that added up into what happened tonight. Those are the harsh realities of the game.”

What happened in the 10th inning of Diamondbacks-Dodgers?

L.A.’s Tommy Edman led off the 10th with an RBI double on a splitter way out of the zone. Arizona intentionally walked Ohtani, while Mookie Betts flew out to advance Edman. Ohtani stole second, and Arizona intentionally walked Freddie Freeman.

“Somebody else was gonna have to beat us,” Lovullo said.

Bases loaded, one out with the tying run on third base, but at least the superstar trio atop the order were already dealt with. That’s when a Miller splitter got away from him and pegged Will Smith to tie the game. Plus, it was Ohtani standing on third, who has speed to burn.

TIE GAME AFTER WILL SMITH HBP pic.twitter.com/4WSWUho1mI

— SleeperDodgers (@SleeperDodgers) May 21, 2025

Muncy lifted a deep enough fly ball to center to end the drama.

“Just a hanging split, kind of just pushed it a little bit,” Miller said of the hit-by-pitch. “No room for error. … I totally get getting to those hitters. I just had some success against Will in Arizona and that sets up the double play. Bases loaded, you gotta be a little bit better than that, not hit guys and try to execute better than I did today.”

Miller brushed off the three days in a row being a factor. He has been a workhorse for the bullpen in different roles, entering Tuesday with a 1.35 ERA and five saves.

The Diamondbacks fell to 2-4 in extra-inning games this season and 8-8 in one-run games.

Ketel Marte ends Yamamoto’s no-hit bid

Yamamoto was dominant through seven innings. The D-backs scored five runs off Yamamoto at Chase Field on May 8, but he looked unhittable for much of Tuesday. He struck out nine batters, four of them looking.

Ketel Marte ended Yamamoto’s bid for history in the seventh with a lead-off single off the wall in right field. Yamamoto stranded him on third by striking out Pavin Smith to end the inning and his outing.

“Yamamoto had some really good stuff today and I just think our guys were grinding,” Lovullo said. “We got that first hit by Ketel and I feel like that energized us a little bit.”

In the eighth, the Diamondbacks created a chance to put up a crooked number but failed to come through. Geraldo Perdomo led off with a hustle double against Dodgers reliever Alex Vesia. Tim Tawa dropped a perfect bunt to the left side, which Vesia misplayed for a hit.

With runners on the corners and nobody out, the D-backs opted to use Eugenio Suarez as a pinch hitter for Jordan Lawlar, who was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Yamamoto.

Suarez popped out, Carroll struck out, and after a Marte intentional walk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. struck out against Ben Casparius.

The D-backs went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and that inning was a big miss to avoid the later shenanigans.

Ryne Nelson keeps Dodgers in check

Nelson threw 71 pitches and pushed through his five innings with one run on three hits.

He shut out the Dodgers through 3.2 innings, but back-to-back doubles by Freeman and Smith broke the stalemate in the fourth. Nelson dialed it back in and retired the final four batters he faced.

“The thing I focus on mainly is just executing,” Nelson said. “You’re not gonna execute every single pitch the way you want it. I think just falling back on that and getting back into my groove.”

His defense on Tuesday played a major role in limiting the damage, notably a Gurriel sliding catch in left field to rob Betts right before the consecutive doubles.

Nelson has thrown 15 innings with two earned runs in his career at Dodger Stadium.

“One of the perks of the job is you get to share the mound with some pretty good ball players on the other side,” Nelson said. “It was a rollercoaster game today. … It’s good to get back out there and get a start. The environment here is always electric, so it’s a pretty cool place to pitch.”

Clutch home runs

Carroll wallopped his 15th home run of the season, which is tied for fourth in MLB. It was his first career extra-inning homer and snapped an 0-for-4 start to his day.

SNAKES ALIVE 🐍

Corbin Carroll gives the @Dbacks the lead in the 10th with a 2-run homer 🤯 pic.twitter.com/psxbT75ZA9

— MLB (@MLB) May 21, 2025

Moreno, meanwhile, has three homers this season, all against the Dodgers.

Before the game, Lovullo said, “Gabi’s locked in right now. He’s swinging the bat very well. So it should be an exciting night for him.”

No kidding.

GABRIEL MORENO TIES IT IN THE 9TH 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XDRfREtarX

— MLB (@MLB) May 21, 2025

Diamondbacks’ next game

The series finale starts Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.

Corbin Burnes will pitch for the D-backs after tossing 13 shutout innings over his last two starts. Los Angeles right-hander Dustin May will be his counterpart.

The game will air on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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