Will Smith had a game-high three hits and newcomers J.D. Martinez and David Peralta also contributed to help the Los Angeles Dodgers come from behind for an 8-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Opening Night at Dodger Stadium.
Julio Urías got off to a rocky start as the Diamondbacks scored a run in each of the first two innings to put the Dodgers in an early deficit. However, Urías then retired 13 of 15 batters faced to get through the sixth inning.
The only baserunners during that stretch came on a Miguel Rojas error that Urías immediately erased by inducing an inning-ending double play, and Ketel Marte attempting to stretch a single into a double.
Urías’ night finished at 79 pitches over six innings, with six strikeouts and just the two runs allowed.
He exited with the Dodgers comfortably ahead thanks in part to James Outman’s two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The homer was Outman’s first at Dodger Stadium, as he only played in road games upon making his MLB debut during the 2022 season.
Prior to that point the Dodgers offense had largely been supplied by Will Smith on a two-run single in the second inning and RBI base hit in the fifth.
Martinez brought Smith home on his RBI single into right field that also chased Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen from the game. Peralta promptly greeted Cole Sulser with his own RBI base hit, but the Diamondbacks were aided by Martinez running into an out that ended the inning.
Smith added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to finish with four RBI, the most by a Dodgers catcher on Opening Day.
Dodgers bullpen shuffle
Phil Bickford was first to appear out of the Dodgers bullpen, which followed Urías with scoreless work. Bickford, Shelby Miller and Yency Almonte all retired the side in order over one inning of work each to finish out the win.
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