Dodgers take advantage in a wild game to beat the Dbacks

With the way the season has started for the Dodgers, scoring runs in critical moments has escaped them for the most part. Wednesday’s game was anything but pretty to watch but the runs did come across eventually, just not anywhere close to the usual ways.

After loading the bases for three innings in a row, the Dodgers finally broke through for three in the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. They would eventually hold on to beat the Diamondbacks by the score of 6-3 to split the series.

Three of the first four hitters of the sixth singled to bring up the bottom of the order for the Dodgers. Kyle Farmer lifted a run-scoring flyball to left, Chris Taylor took a ball to the ribs two batters later to score another and a wild pitch brought home the other run that gave them a 4-1 lead.

Arizona would not go quietly however, getting two back in the seventh to bring the Dodgers lead to just one.

The two teams had combined to go just 2-for-19 with runners in scoring position as the game moved into the bottom of the eighth. The one-run lead was no guarantee for a game that saw the first five runs of the game scored on a fluke inside-the-park homer, two wild pitches, a sac fly and a hit batter.

Chase Utley would provide some much needed insurance with a two-run double, giving Kenley Jansen the breathing room to toss a perfect ninth inning.

The two starting pitchers didn’t figure in the decision but both were tough over five innings, working out of trouble in each inning. Alex Wood scattered five hits and three walks to go with four strikeouts, making it the fourth time he allowed one run or less in his first eight starts.

That only run against Wood came on a flyball to center that caromed off the wall, allowing Nick Ahmed to run all the way around the bases.

Welcome Back

Yasiel Puig had three singles and two runs scored in his first game back from the disabled list.

Up next

The Dodgers welcome the Reds to town Thursday to start a four-game series. Walker Buehler (2-0, 1.13) will take the ball against Tyler Mahle (2-4, 4.35).

Wednesday particulars

Home run: Nick Ahmed (6)

WP - Pedro Baez (1-1): 1 IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout

LP - Fernando Salas (3-3): ²⁄₃ IP, 3 hits, 3 runs, 1 strikeout

Sv - Kenley Jansen (6): 1 IP