J.D. Martinez homers 4 times, Robbie Ray fans 14 in Diamondbacks latest win over Dodgers

The Dodgers have a growing Diamondbacks problem. J.D. Martinez and Robbie Ray had career nights on Monday, lifting Arizona to a 13-0 domination in the opener of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium.

Martinez tied the major league record with four home runs on Monday, driving in six. This is the second game with three or more home runs for Martinez, who also hit three on June 21, 2015 for the Tigers at Yankee Stadium.

Martinez, acquired by the Diamondbacks on July 18 from Detroit, has 18 home runs in 40 games with his new team, giving their lineup exactly the boost they were looking for.

His two-run shot in the fourth inning provided the game’s first score, and represented the only runs allowed by Rich Hill in his six innings, which included nine strikeouts and just three baserunners allowed.

On a normal night, that is probably a winnable game. But on Monday, Robbie Ray was at his best. The left-hander struck out a career-high 14 and pitched into the eighth, and was dominant all night.

He retired the first 15 batters of the game, and allowed only three singles on the night — Logan Forsythe in the sixth, Justin Turner in the seventh, then Forsythe again in the eighth, when Ray was lifted with two outs.

With no walks on the night, Ray became just the third pitcher to strike out at least 14 with no walks at Dodger Stadium, joining Clayton Kershaw (twice) and Sandy Koufax.

Ray’s 53 strikeouts in 5 starts against the Dodgers this year are the most in a single season against the team in the live ball era, surpassing Curt Schilling’s 51 strikeouts against LA in 2001. The only pitcher with more strikeouts against the Dodgers than Ray was Christy Mathewson, with 58 strikeouts in 1908, per Elias Sports.

A 2-0 game got ugly in the seventh inning, when Pedro Baez allowed back-to-back solo home runs to Martinez and Brandon Drury, then a two-run single by Ray. Baez, who allowed four runs on the night, allowed exactly one home run in each of the first four months of the season and two in August. He has given up three home runs in his two September appearances.

Adam Rosales homered in the eighth inning, then Martinez made history in the ninth with a two-run shot.

The Diamondbacks scored three runs in the eighth inning, and four in the ninth to complete the carnage. The Dodgers bullpen has allowed 45 runs in 56⅓ innings against the Diamondbacks, representing 26.9 percent of their total runs allowed in 2017.

Up next

Hyun-jin Ryu is up next on the firing line, with Zack Greinke starting for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, a 7:10 p.m. PT start.

Monday particulars

Home runs: J.D. Martinez 4 (34), Brandon Drury (12), Adam Rosales (3)

WP - Robbie Ray (12-5): 7⅔ IP, 3 hits, 14 strikeouts

LP - Rich Hill (9-7): 6 IP, 2 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 9 strikeouts