Descalso's 2-Run Triple Lifts Diamondbacks Past Dodgers, 4-3
PHOENIX (AP) — Daniel Descalso atoned for a costly error with a two-run, go-ahead triple in the seventh inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-3 on Tuesday night, handing the Dodgers their fourth straight loss and seventh in eight games.
The Diamondbacks won for the fifth time in six games, improving to 21-8, tied with Boston for best record in baseball and Arizona's best start through 29 games in the franchise's history.
Clayton Kershaw left the game after six innings with a 3-2 lead but the Dodgers couldn't hold it.
A.J. Pollock homered for the fourth time in six at-bats — after his three-homer performance the previous night — and Christian Walker hit a towering pinch-hit solo shot measured by Statcast at 479 feet. They were the only runs allowed by Kershaw, who gave up six hits, fanned six and walked one and remained 1-4.
Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who have lost seven of eight to Arizona this season.
Lefty Adam Libertore (1-1) relieved Kershaw and gave up singles to Deven Marrero and John Ryan Murphy to bring up Descalso, who lashed a triple into the right-field corner to bring home both runners and make it 4-3.
Silvino Bracho (1-0), just up from Triple-A Reno, pitched a scoreless seventh to get the win. Brad Boxberger pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in 10 tries.
The Dodgers had gone up 3-1 with an unearned run when Descalso dropped Chase Utley's fly ball in left. Utley took second on the play, advanced to third on a ground out and scored when second baseman Ketel Marte made a diving stop of Matt Muncy's grounder.
The Diamondbacks have opened the season with nine straight series victories, the first NL team to do so since the 1907 Chicago Cubs. They can make it 10 in a row with a victory either Wednesday or Thursday in the four-game set.
Pollock's home run, leading off the second inning, gave Arizona a 1-0 lead. It was his first homer off Kershaw in 38 career at bats and kept Pollock tied for the NL lead in homers with 10.
The Dodgers bounced back in the third. After Chris Taylor's second single of the night was erased with a double play, Yasmani Grandal walked and Bellinger followed with a booming home run just inside the foul pole in right field and Los Angeles led 2-1.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: Manager Dave Roberts said 3B Justin Turner (left wrist fracture) will not go on a rehab assignment this week, as had been previously suggested, but probably will go out next week. ... 2B Logan Forsythe (right shoulder inflammation) will leave for a rehab assignment this weekend. ... Roberts said he expects RHP Rich Hill (finger infection) to come off the DL to start Sunday against San Diego in Monterrey, Mexico.
Diamondbacks: LF David Peralta was out of the lineup after getting hit in the right hand by a pitch on Monday night but grounded out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.
TRADE COMPLETED
The Arizona Diamondbacks completed the three-team trade that brought them OF Steven Souza Jr. by sending RHP Sam McWilliams and LHP Colin Poche to Tampa Bay as the two players to be named in the deal when it was initially announced. McWilliams, 22, was 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA for Class A Visalia. Poche, 24, has thrown 11 scoreless innings with 23 strikeouts and two walks for Double-A Jackson this season.
DODGER MOVE
Los Angeles recalled left-handed reliever Edward Paredes and optioned right-hander Brock Stewart to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Paredes was 1-2 with a 1.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts in nine appearances with Oklahoma City and will be used as a left-handed specialist with the big league club, Roberts said.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-0, 2.22 ERA) and the Diamondbacks go with Zack Godley (3-0, 3.81) Wednesday night in the third game of the four-game series.
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