Dbacks, Dodgers square off for first time in 2015
By Kody Acevedo
Apr 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Mark Trumbo (15) celebrates with teammates after scoring in the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Just three games into the 2015 season and the Arizona Diamondbacks already have their work cut out for them.
It was a difficult task right out of the gate, hosting the San Francisco Giants, the defending World Champions, in the opening series.
The Dbacks went 1-2 against the Giants, dropping games one and three.
They got a much-needed off day Thursday to regroup and get ready to host the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game weekend series.
The Dodgers opened up 2015 at home and took 2/3 from the San Diego Padres. They were led by Adrian Gonzalez, who hit five home runs in the first three games of the season, a new Major League record.
For the Dodgers, they have won the last five games against the Dbacks going back to last season.
In fact, the Dodgers gave the Dbacks a pretty big headache in 2014. The Dbacks went 4-15 against the Dodgers last season, which was the worst record for the Dbacks against a NL West rival.
On top of that, this has not been the friendliest of rivalries in recent years (The Dodgers swimming in the Dbacks pool after clinching the division two years ago certainly didn’t help things).
These two teams have been involved in a couple of benches-clearing situations after a few rousing games of beanball.
A similar incident reared its ugly head in Spring Training this year when Justin Turner of the Dodgers was hit twice. After the umpires warned both benches, four Dbacks, including Manager Chip Hale, were ejected.
Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reported that Hale and Dodger’s skipper Don Mattingly met up before the season started to “clear the air.”
While the managers might have smoothed things over, we’ll see if the boys on the field can move on from the past.
But you know the saying, boys will be boys. They’ll show us a thing or two about where they stand come Friday night.