Asdrubal Cabrera secures walk-off hit in D-backs win over the Dodgers

PHOENIX — Revenge was on the mind for the Arizona Diamondbacks as they handed the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-5 loss in extra innings on Friday night.

After ending the first half of the season with two losses by a combined score of 29-5 in Los Angeles, the D-backs did not want to embarrass themselves again.

Asdrubal Cabrera ensured that would not happen with a walk-off single in the 10th inning to drive in Daulton Varsho.

Hmm. Where have we seen a bloop single into left field for a walk-off win before? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/PBapjb0rtD

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 31, 2021

“We slowed the game down enough and we made pitches and we executed,” manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “That’s what pleases me the most. Watching Asdrubal getting that big base hit and scoring that run and watching those guys celebrate, they deserve it.”

Josh VanMeter added three RBIs and Zac Gallen picked up his first quality start since May 7 for the D-backs’ seventh win in 12 games back from the All-Star break.

After striking out two Dodgers in the opening frame, Gallen forced three 1-2-3 innings in a row, starting in the third. That included a six-pitch inning in the fourth after he struck out the side in order in the third.

Gallen finished with 6.0 innings pitched, two earned runs, five hits and one walk. His eight strikeouts matched a season-high despite the no-decision.

“Probably one of his strongest outings of the year,” Lovullo said. “I felt like he was in control in just about every inning of the outing.”

Arizona would send six pitchers to the mound with Miguel Aguilar, Tyler Clippard and Matt Peacock all tossing scoreless innings. Peacock would end up as the winning pitcher, improving to 4-6 on the season.

The D-backs sent eight batters to the plate in the second inning to get on the board first. With two outs and the bases loaded, VanMeter roped a double to the wall to bring home David Peralta and Carson Kelly.

Rich Bickford replaced Tony Gonsolin for the final out of the inning. The Dodgers also went deep into the bullpen, sending nine players to the mound in the game.

Gonsolin went 1.2 innings, Bickford went 1.1 and no other Dodgers pitcher lasted more than 1.0 innings.

The D-backs added another run in the fourth off an infield single by Cabrera before things got dicey in the sixth.

Chris Taylor led the inning off against Gallen with a solo blast and the Dodgers strung together three more hits in a row to load the bases. After a deep sac-fly by former Diamondback A.J. Pollock gave the Dodgers another run, Gallen got Will Smith to strike out and Chandler native Cody Bellinger to fly out to end the threat.

Arizona responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Dodgers matched them in the seventh to keep the D-backs lead 5-4.

Los Angeles tied things up in the eighth by a pinch-hit RBI single from Albert Pujols.

The D-backs got a runner to third in the 8th against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen and Los Angeles had runners on the corners with one out in the ninth against Arizona’s Tyler Clippard, but neither team could convert.

Varsho was left stranded after a double in the ninth with the pitcher’s spot at the plate, allowing him to start the 10th on second base.

Peacock got two outs on three pitches in the 10th and the third out on a fly-out to end the Dodgers half of the inning.

With Varsho at second, Cabrera was able to sneak a liner through the left side of the infield for the game-winning RBI.

“I’m here to do a job,” Cabrera said after the game. “I’ve been on the IL and with the way I’ve been hitting, I don’t think anybody wanted Cabrera.”

He finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three walks.

EXTRA BASES

Two D-backs made their MLB debuts.

Drew Ellis came on as a pinch-hitter for Gallen in the bottom of the sixth. He led off the inning with a single and went first to home on a double by VanMeter.

Pitcher Miguel Aguilar came on with no outs and a runner on third in the seventh inning. He got out of the jam with a strikeout, fly out and ground out to the Dodgers 2-3-4 hitters.

He is the third Mexican-born player to appear for the D-backs this season along with Humberto Castellanos and Joakim Soria, who was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline on Friday.

UP NEXT

The D-backs take on the Dodgers again from Chase Field with Merrill Kelly on the mound. The Dodgers have not yet named a starter.

First pitch is slated for 5:10 p.m. and can be heard on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

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