D-backs enjoy some role reversal against Dodgers
PHOENIX -- Usually, the D-backs can’t wait to see the Dodgers leave town following a series. But after the way they handled them this weekend, Arizona probably wouldn’t mind L.A. hanging around a bit longer.
The D-backs took three of four from the Dodgers at Chase Field, capping things off with an 11-6 win Sunday. That gives them five wins in eight games against the Dodgers.
Last season, the D-backs also won five games against LA … in 19 tries.
Over the last three seasons, the D-backs went 10-38 vs. the Dodgers. In short, the rivalry hasn’t been much of a rivalry. Maybe that’s changing a bit, or maybe it’s just a matter of one team being hot and the other not. Time will tell, but for now, the D-backs are going to enjoy it.
Combined with the split of a two-game series in San Diego, the D-backs sit at 6-4 against the teams most experts had picked to battle it out this year for the NL West crown.
“I felt like that was going to be a good measuring stick for us,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said of his team’s early-season schedule. “And that's what I was focused on, just going out and showing [our division rivals] that we’re ready to play some baseball.”
The D-backs didn’t crush the baseball Sunday, with a number of their hits just finding holes, but they did collect 11 hits -- and when they get on base like that, they’re able to unleash their speed. They took extra bases where they could, going 5-for-5 in steal attempts.
“I think the biggest thing is we were putting the pressure on,” said Josh Rojas, who had three hits. “I felt like it was the first time I've ever played the Dodgers where it felt like they could feel the pressure.”
It was evident from the beginning of the game that the D-backs felt they could run on Dodgers starter Michael Grove.
“They're very athletic, they can run and we've talked about it,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “If they get on base, it really doesn't matter who's back there. Because the pitcher, you can vary times, but you still got to try to make pitches. And with that combo, with where Mike was trying to find the zone and get settled in, they took advantage of him, rightfully so.”
As the game wore on, the D-backs could sense the frustration mounting on the other side of the field.
“It’s very defeating,” Rojas said. “You can see them on defense, just talking about their shifts and where they're playing, whether they're in the right spot. I mean, you start to question everything. We’ve been on the other side of it where they're just spraying hits out there and they're just hitting it where you're not and you start to feel like maybe you're just not in the right spot. But it feels good to be on the right side of that this time.”
With the new balanced schedule, the D-backs will have six fewer games against the Dodgers this year. Having played them eight times in the season’s first 10 games means they won’t see L.A. again until Aug. 8.
Whether the D-backs will have the same success against the Dodgers remains to be seen. But the Dodgers do know they have to take Arizona seriously.
“They did a good job,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said. “They were on a lot of pitches. They were hitting breaking balls, hitting fastballs. We’ve just got to do a better job and figure out how to get those guys out. They’ve got good athletes over there, especially those lefties in a row. Keeping them off the bases is important. But we’ll try to figure it out.”
The road doesn’t get any easier for the D-backs, who have the NL Central-leading Brewers coming to Chase Field for a three-game set beginning Monday night.
“We’ve just got to be who we are and just go out and play our style of baseball,” Lovullo said. “We're in a good spot. We've been doing a lot of good things, but there's no time for complacency. We’ve got to make sure we're cranking it up for the game tomorrow.”