After splitting the first two games, the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers met for the rubber match at Dodger Stadium. Ross Stripling took the mound for his second career start in the Majors, and he was opposed by Robbie Ray.
Whereas Stripling was the center of a controversial decision in his previous outing, there wouldn’t be any no-hit drama against the Diamondbacks as Jean Segura hit a leadoff single in the first inning. Segura was erased on a 4-3 double play, and Paul Goldschmidt grounded to shortstop for the final out.
Kiké Hernandez drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first, but Ray proceed to strikeout Yasiel Puig, and got Adrian Gonzalez to ground into an inning-ending double play. Stripling walked Jake Lamb with two outs in the second, then ended the inning by striking out Chris Herrmann.
Ray erased a Howie Kendrick leadoff single in the bottom of the second by inducing a double play ball off Corey Seager’s bat. Trayce Thompson and A.J. Ellis extended the inning by drawing walks. Thompson then advanced to third base on Ray’s errant pickoff attempt at second.
Both runners were stranded as Austin Barnes struck out swinging. Stripling opened the third with back-to-back strikeouts of Ray and Nick Ahmed. Segura hit back to the box to close out a quick inning for the rookie right-hander.
CONTINUE READING: Pinch-hitter Justin Turner sparks five-run inning
