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Dodgers Highlights: Dustin May Dominates Diamondbacks; Freddie Freeman Hits First Home Run

Staff Writer
4 Min Read
Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers came up with more two-out hits and Dustin May was dominant in a 5-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thursday’s game was the home opener at Chase Field, which the Dodgers previously won in 2003 and lost in 2008.

Despite facing the Diamondbacks in a second consecutive start, May allowed just one run on two hits and collected five strikeouts over six innings.

He gave up a two-out single to Jake McCarthy in the second inning but then held Arizona without another hit until Josh Rojas’ RBI double in the sixth.

A Dodgers starting pitcher has completed at least six innings in six of seven games this season. The only exception is Michael Grove, who pitched through illness in his 2023 debut.

May was provided an early lead thanks to Chris Taylor’s RBI single off Merrill Kelly in the second inning. The hit was Taylor’s second of the season, both of which have come in the past three games.

After Freddie Freeman’s double and a Will Smith walk, Muncy grounded into what should have been an inning-ending double play, but a throwing error prevented the Diamondbacks from completing it and resulted in a run scoring. J.D. Martinez then extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0 with an RBI double.

Smith doubled and Freeman walked to put two on in the sixth inning, which was eventually cashed in by James Outman on an RBI single with two outs. Freeman then became the ninth Dodgers player with a home run this season as he drove an elevated fastball the other way in the seventh inning.

The Dodgers scored four of their five runs with two outs.

Dodgers bullpen decisions

Alex Vesia endured another shaky appearance against the Diamondbacks as he gave up two extra-base hits and had a runner score on a passed ball in the seventh inning. Vesia was replaced after facing just three batters, and Yency Almonte got the Dodgers out of further trouble.

Though, that was not before Almonte nearly surrendered a game-tying, three-run home run prior to ending the inning.

Despite the heart of the Diamondbacks lineup due up in the eighth inning, it was Phil Bickford, not Evan Phillips who entered the game. Bickford regularly touched 97 mph with his fastball to strand a leadoff double, and Phillips then came on in the ninth for his first save of the season.

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