D-backs fall back to .500 after early lead evaporates in loss to Dodgers
May 16, 2022, 10:08 PM | Updated: May 17, 2022, 3:42 pm
Sean Poppen #64 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts to a two run homerun from Chris Taylor #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers, to trail 5-2, during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
An early lead evaporated for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday night.
The D-backs have now lost three consecutive games and have fallen back to .500 with an 18-18 record.
First baseman Christian Walker got things started for the D-backs with a solo home run to lead off the top of the second inning.
Have a day @CWALK328. 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/FNTELDhODu
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 17, 2022
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A Josh Rojas sac-fly off Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin that brought in Ketel Marte to score in the fourth brought Arizona’s advantage to 2-0.
D-backs starter Madison Bumgarner seemed to be in a groove through the first three innings, only allowing one hit while striking out one.
But after getting out of a jam with no outs and two runners on, the lefty wasn’t able to prevent the Dodgers from scoring in the fifth.
However, it was an Alek Thomas error in center field that allowed a Mookie Betts single to bring in two runs to tie the game while also ending up on third base.
“He’s a playmaker and he’s trying to make a play,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo told reporters postgame of Thomas. “But sometimes the play is to be safe.”
The Dodgers also decided to take a shot at the Phoenix Suns in their post of the highlight on Twitter:
Rally against the valley. pic.twitter.com/JAeFildgtL
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 17, 2022
Bumgarner finished the night after the fifth inning having allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one on 92 pitches (62 strikes).
“Bum was very effective early on,” Lovullo said. “They got some momentum in that last inning, and his pitch count got up.”
Things went from bad to worse for the D-backs in the sixth, as RHP Sean Poppen allowed a leadoff double to Dodgers’ Max Muncy followed by a Chris Taylor two-run home run to give Los Angeles the five runs it needed to eventually win the game.
Arizona was able to get two runs back in the ninth with a Rojas single followed by a David Peralta two-run home run to right field, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback.
#FreightTrain with a homer late in the game!🚂 @DPFreightTrain6 pic.twitter.com/bYwXOw6hu8
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 17, 2022
As a team, the D-backs totaled five hits and three walks while striking out 11 times. Arizona also left four runners on and went 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position.
“This team, we’ve got a good heartbeat,” Lovullo said. “We won’t shut down.”
UP NEXT
The Diamondbacks have a doubleheader against the Dodgers on Tuesday as one of the makeup games for the early April series that was lost because of the MLB lockout.
Game 1 is set for 12:10 p.m. on ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2, with Arizona LHP Tyler Gilbert scheduled to start. Los Angeles has yet to name its starter.
Game 2 is slated for 7:10 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station, with D-backs RHP Merrill Kelly scheduled to start against Dodgers LHP Tyler Anderson.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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