D-Backs Take Series From Dodgers

After tallying just four wins last season against the Dodgers, the Arizona Diamondbacks already have half that total in 2015. The D’Backs took two out of three games from LA over the weekend.

Things got started Friday night at Chase Field when the Dbacks pulled off the 4-3 win in 10 innings. The Dbacks jumped ahead 3-0 in the 3rd courtesy of the three-run home run off the bat of Paul Goldschmidt, his first of the year.

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The Dodgers put one run up in the fourth and two more in the fifth off of starter Chase Anderson, but the Arizona bullpen would shut the down the rest of the way.

Andrew Chafin threw three scoreless innings and closer Addison Reed came on in the ninth to send the game to the 10th tied up at three a piece.

The Dodgers went down in order in the 10th after Adrian Gonzalez grounded into a double play with Yasiel Puig on base.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Dodgers sent J.P. Howell to the mound. Howell got the lead-off hitter Nick Ahmed to ground out to begin the inning, but walked the next two batters he faced, pinch-hitter Cliff Pennington and A.J. Pollock.

Pennington stole third after the Pollock walk and Ender Inciarte stepped up with runners at the corners. On the first pitch of the at bat, Inciarte singled to right field, scoring Pennington and giving the Dbacks the 4-3 win.

Oliver Perez (1-0) was credited with the win on Friday night.  Howell (0-1) was handed the loss.

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With the momentum on their side, the Dbacks came into Saturday night’s game with a tough task, finding a way to beat Clayton Kershaw.

The reigning NL MVP and Cy Young Award winner was looking for his first win of 2015 after walking away with a no decision on opening night at Dodger Stadium.

But the Dbacks had other plans. Arizona jumped ahead the the early 1-0 lead in bottom of the first thanks to a Mark Trumbo RBI single.

The Dbacks added another run in the third, two more in the fourth and another two in the seventh to lead 6-0 after seven innings.

Kershaw lasted just 6 1/3 innings, giving up six runs, five earned runs, 10 hits, walking three and striking out five.

The Dbacks would go on to win 6-0 and take the first two games of the series against the Dodgers, picking up their first series win of the season. Kershaw (0-1) was handed his first loss.

Apr 11, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Archie Bradley (25) looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, Dbacks starter Archie Bradley was credited with the win in his major league debut. With his parents in the crowd watching on, Bradley threw six scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. He walked four and struck out six.

Not too shabby for the young man, especially against a team like Los Angeles.

On Sunday afternoon, the Dbacks were hoping to bring out the broom and sweep the Dodgers on their way out of town, but the Dodgers jumped all over the Arizona pitchers.

Starter Josh Collmenter gave up three runs on nine hits in his five innings of work. He also walked a batter and struck out one.

Dbacks manager Chip Hale turned the reliever A.J. Schugel to take over for Collmenter in the sixth.

Schugel gave up two more runs and the Dodgers led it 5-0 going into the 9th. In fact, the Dodgers scored a single run in each inning from the 3rd to the 7th.

In the ninth, Perez, who was credited with the win on Friday, allowed an additional two runs to score and the Dbacks went into the bottom of the 9th down 7-0. The Dbacks didn’t go down without a fight though.

Apr 12, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Joel Peralta (62) celebrates with catcher Yasmani Grandal (9) after earning a save against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers sent three different pitchers to the mound in the bottom of the 9th after the Dbacks began chipping away the Dodgers’ seven run lead.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Jordan Pacheco singled off of Chris Hatcher to put the Dbacks on the board. LA now led 7-1.

One batter later, A.J. Pollock doubled down the right field line to make it a 7-4 Dodger lead. The Dbacks two out rally would be silenced after Don Mattingly brought in Joel Peralta to replace Hatcher.

Peralta faced Ender Inciarte and after a 10-pitch showdown, Inciarte lined out to the Center Fielder Joc Pederson to end the game. The Dbacks fell 7-4.

Zack Greinke (1-0) received his first win of 2015 after going seven innings and giving up just five hits. He didn’t allow a walk and struck out seven. Collmenter (0-2) was handed his second loss of the season for Arizona.

If you’re Arizona, you have to feel good about the successful weekend overall against the Dodgers. Taking the first two games is big accomplishment and shines a little light on what could be a turn around year for Arizona.

Remember though, it is still early. The Dbacks and Dodgers both sit at 3-3 overall after the first week of the regular season. There’s still 156 games to play, so we’ll see how the season moves along.

Still, it’s always nice to take the series from your NL West rivals.

Up next, The Dbacks head to Southern California to begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers meanwhile, go back home to LA to host the Seattle Mariners for a three-game interleague matchup.