A dominant outing from Walker Buehler and Corey Seager adding to his hot streak propelled the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win in the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The victory was the Dodgers’ sixth in a row, tying their season-best winning streak.
Although the Dodgers historically have made Robbie Ray work, the left-hander was efficient through three shutout innings. He took the mound in the fourth at just 38 pitches, but matters began to spiral for Ray after getting the first out of the inning.
Justin Turner floated a single into left field, then David Freese walked to put two. Seager worked a full count and lifted the seventh pitch of his at-bat over the wall in left-center field.
The home run was Seager’s seventh this season and third in the past six games. Ray pitched well aside from the shaky fourth inning, as his seven frames of work marked a season high. Before allowing the homer to Seager, Ray nearly allowed a run on Alex Verdugo’s base hit but David Peralta threw David Freese out at home plate.
It was an impressive play for Peralta in his first game back from a shoulder injury that forched him to the injured list.
Ray’s effort was bested by Buehler, who had complete command of his fastball throughout the night. Buehler challenged Diamondbacks throughout the start, and matched a career high by getting through eight innings and set a season high with 11 strikeouts.
Buehler was perfect through 4.2 innings before allowing a solo home run to Christian Walker that trimmed the Dodgers’ lead to 3-1. Buehler responded by retiring the next nine batters in a row. The streak was snapped on Ildemaro Vargas’ two-out single in the bottom of the eighth.
It was redemption of sorts for Vargas, as he and Buehler exchanged words after a strikeout to end the fifth inning.
There was a bit of a nervous moment for the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth when Kenley Jansen allowed a two-out, ground-rule double to Jarrod Dyson. Representing the tying run, Peralta popped up to end the game.
