The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in a blowout, 11-6, in the series finale and final matchup of the year between the two clubs to win the series, three games to one.
The Dodgers started scoring in the second inning with three runs crossing the plate that gave them a lead that they never looked back on. Chris Taylor started them off with a double, and he came around to score on an RBI single from Mookie Betts.
Freddie Freeman extended the lead with a two-run homer, his 20th of the season and third of the series as he has been locked in since taking a few days off to let his finger heal and take a mental reset.
The Dodgers put up another three-run inning in the seventh, which was started by Shohei Ohtani. With one out, Ohtani singled and promptly stole second and third base before scoring on a sacrifice fly from Freeman.
Ohtani now has 44 home runs and 46 stolen bases this season as he continues to move toward MLB’s first 50-50 season. He already became the only player ever to reach at least 43 home runs and 43 stolen bases in a single season.
Prior to Freeman’s sac fly, the Diamondbacks intentionally walked Betts, and a single from Teoscar Hernández put a second runner on. After Hernández stole second base to put two runners in scoring position, Will Smith singled them both home to cap off the inning.
On the mound, Jack Flaherty turned in a great start, going 5.2 innings while allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking three. He still hasn’t completely found his rhytm with the Dodgers, but he has been effective nonetheless.
The lone run he allowed came in the third inning when Eugenio Suarez dobuled and scored on a groundout from Corbin Carroll. The inning could have been worse as the D-Backs had two on with no out, but Flaherty was able to limit the damage.
The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the seventh against Ryan Brasier and Anthony Banda to make it a 6-3 game, but the Dodgers answered back and more in the eighth.
With two outs, the Dodgers put together a five-run rally in the inning, started by a single from Taylor. Ohtani followed with a walk before Betts doubled home the pair, making it 8-3.
Freeman blasted his second homer of the day and fourth of the series, a two-run shot to put the Dodgers up by seven runs, and after singles from Smith and Hernández, Tommy Edman singled to drive in the fifth run of the inning for the Dodgers’ 11th run.
Teoscar Hernández finished a home run short of the cycle in the game, but finished his day tying a career-high with five hits in five at-bats.
Eugenio Suarez homered in the eighth against Michael Petersen, and Brent Honeywell allowed two runs in the ninth.
Dodgers making ground in NL West
With the win, the Dodgers now hold a six-game lead over the Diamondbacks in the National League West. In addition, they clinched the season series, taking seven of the 13 games the two clubs have played against each other.
By having the edge in the season series, the Dodgers now hold the tiebreaker in the NL West over the Diamondbacks, essentially increasing their lead over Arizona from six games to seven. The teams do not play again this season.
In addition, that pushed the San Diego Padres into second place in the NL West as they trail the Dodgers by 5.5 games, but their game against the Detroit Tigers began as the Dodgers’ game ended.
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