'Relentless' D-backs ride full-team effort to beat Dodgers
LOS ANGELES -- This is what it looks like when the D-backs’ offense is firing on all cylinders.
Every batter in Arizona’s starting lineup had at least one hit in a 7-3 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium -- and they showed that there are a lot of ways they can hurt you.
“That's what we're trying to identify as, is that relentless, never die -- you give us a chance, you give us a breath, we're gonna find a way to drive a run across,” said Christian Walker, who hit his 13th career Dodger Stadium homer. “I think that's who we can be, and I think that’s us.”
There was small ball. Four straight singles from the bottom half of the D-backs’ order led to two runs coming across in the top of the second inning. Ketel Marte brought in another in the fifth on a groundout.
It was the long ball, though, that really put an exclamation point on Arizona’s output. Walker led off the sixth by working the count full against right-hander Gavin Stone before connecting with an 87 mph changeup, which he deposited into the seats down the left-field line.
“I wasn't necessarily sitting changeup, but I know he likes that pitch a lot,” said Walker. “3-2 [count], he wasn't gonna just groove me a fastball there. So I wanted to be ready for anything, and luckily, I was able to get him there.”
Among active players, Walker ranks third in homers as a visiting player at Dodger Stadium, behind Paul Goldschmidt (19) and Nolan Arenado (17) -- and all of Walker’s have come since the start of 2018, more than any other Chavez Ravine visitor in that span.
The Dodgers tacked on two runs against Brandon Pfaadt in the bottom of the sixth, meaning it was just a one-run game when Joc Pederson came up with two on and one out in the seventh. He launched a homer that proved to be the pivotal blow against his former team.
Pederson, who signed a one-year deal with the D-backs this offseason, has thus far been an outstanding pickup. Getting most of his reps against righties, he’s batting .321 with a .989 OPS -- all while serving as a valued veteran voice on a relatively young club.
“He's a student of the game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “He sees repeated pitches, he logs the information and then goes out and executes. And that's contagious. So people are watching him do his thing when he's in the batter's box. And then he comes into the dugout and has baseball conversations, and that's very healthy for a young team.”
“I've been in a lot of different shoes in the big leagues -- starter, bench player, sent down, All-Star,” said Pederson. “So I've seen the game through some different lenses, and I think that helps that I can [speak] to multiple situations.”
Other stalwarts in the batting order produced as well. With a line-drive single in the seventh, Marte now has a hit in 20 straight games, the longest hitting streak in MLB this season. It’s the fifth-longest hitting streak in franchise history, behind Danny Bautista (21 in 2004), Tony Womack (24 in 2000), Paul Goldschmidt (26 from 2013-14) and Luis Gonzalez (30 in 1999).
Kevin Newman, who has adeptly filled in for the injured Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop for the past month and a half, reached and scored twice.
And those who have been waiting to break out contributed as well. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had a pair of singles and a stolen base, and he’s now 7-for-20 over his last six games, including a homer in Monday’s series opener.
Reigning National League Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll, who’s had a tough start to his season, doubled in the fifth -- an encouraging sign, especially after he tripled in back-to-back games against the Tigers on Saturday and Sunday.
For the D-backs, Tuesday provided a moment to build upon as they attempt to establish consistency following a 23-26 start. And there’s nothing like a 12-hit performance where everyone plays a role to help bring a team together.
“You walk in the clubhouse and they're all celebrating,” said Lovullo. “They all feel like they had some sort of input to this victory. It was team effort today. It was a very grinding day, even though the score may indicate something different. The pitchers did their job, kept us in the game, the bullpen was fantastic, and everybody just chipped away at it and had quality at-bats all day long.”