Preview: Diamondbacks at Dodgers
Gracenote
May 9, 2018
The Los Angeles Dodgers returned home Tuesday hoping for a fresh start following a 4-7 road trip but instead lost their third straight with a 12-inning, 8-5 loss to the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams conclude their brief two-game set on Wednesday with the Dodgers’ Alex Wood facing Arizona’s Patrick Corbin.
Daniel Descalso belted a three-run homer off Yimi Garcia with two outs in the 12th inning Tuesday as National League West-leading Arizona won its third in a row and improved to 24-11. Cleanup hitter A.J. Pollock continued his hot streak with a two-run blast in the first inning, giving him five homers against the Dodgers in a span of five games, dating back to last week’s four-game series at Arizona. Right fielder Matt Kemp had three hits for the Dodgers, who have lost 10 of their last 14 to fall nine games back of the Diamondbacks. Los Angeles went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position in Tuesday’s loss but should receive a much-needed boost soon from third baseman Justin Turner, who has been out all season with a broken left wrist but is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend and could rejoin the team as soon as next Tuesday against Miami.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (4-0, 2.15 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Alex Wood (0-3, 3.83)
Corbin received a no-decision against the Dodgers last Thursday, allowing one run on three hits over six innings. The 28-year-old native New Yorker has been a key part of Arizona’s stellar start, tossing at least six innings in five of his seven outings. Chris Taylor is 3-for-16 with five strikeouts against Corbin, who is 4-9 with a 3.88 ERA in 18 career games (16 starts) against the Dodgers, including 1-0 with a 0.68 ERA in two outings across 13 1/3 innings this season.
Wood battled through hamstring cramps and recorded five innings of one-run ball against Arizona last Thursday. The 27-year-old is still seeking his first win despite allowing three runs or fewer in five of his first seven starts. Wood owns a 5-4 record and 3.09 ERA in 14 career games (10 starts) against the Diamondbacks but has struggled to contain Pollock (9-for-21 with two home runs) and Paul Goldschmidt (6-for-25 with three homers).
WALK-OFFS
1. Goldschmidt snapped a 0-for-25 skid with a leadoff double in the 10th inning on Tuesday.
2. The Dodgers optioned RHP Brock Stewart to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make room for LHP Rich Hill, who started Tuesday’s game.
3. Arizona placed RHP Braden Shipley on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation and recalled RHP Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Reno.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 6, Dodgers 3