PHOENIX — Los Angeles came into Tuesday needing a response after getting shut down in the series opener, and for most of the night the Dodgers looked like they had it figured out. They scored four runs in the first two innings, knocked out Arizona’s starter, and carried a comfortable lead deep into the game. Then the seventh inning threatened, and suddenly none of that felt like enough. The Dodgers held on for a 6-5 win at Chase Field to even the series, but they earned every last out of it.
Ohtani and Freeman Put It Away Early
The blueprint was established before Arizona had recorded its first out. Shohei Ohtani opened the game with a sharp double to right, and two batters later Freddie Freeman lifted a fly ball to right-center that kept carrying until it was gone. A two-run homer, a 2-0 lead, and the Dodgers had already done more damage in the first inning than they managed in all of Monday’s game.
They were not done. In the second, Dalton Rushing and Alex Freeland put back-to-back singles together to set the table, and Ohtani stepped in and lined a triple to right that scored them both. Just like that, it was 4-0. Ohtani finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBI, two runs scored, and an intentional walk in the seventh that told you everything about how much Arizona wanted no part of him in a tight spot. Freeman matched him, going 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, producing every time LA needed something from their middle of the order.
Eric Lauer started on the mound and kept it manageable through 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs and keeping Arizona from mounting anything serious. Corbin Carroll hit a solo shot in the third to chip into the lead, but Lauer pitched around the threats and handed a 4-1 game to Blake Treinen in the fifth. Treinen got through it clean. The Dodgers added a run in the seventh on an Andy Pages sacrifice fly to score Rushing, and Mookie Betts followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 6-2. It felt like plenty. It was almost not enough.
The Seventh Inning Nearly Gave It All Back
With a four-run lead and six outs to go, the Dodgers handed the ball to Kyle Hurt. What followed was as uncomfortable a bullpen inning as LA has had in weeks. Hurt walked Ketel Marte to open the frame, got Carroll to fly out for the first out, then walked Gabriel Moreno to put two on with one out. Nolan Arenado stepped in and punished both of them, lining a double to left that cleared the bases. Two runs scored. A 6-2 game was now 6-4, and the Chase Field crowd came to life.
Hurt got Waldschmidt to strike out for the second out, and it looked for a moment like the damage might be contained. Then he walked Ildemaro Vargas. Dave Roberts had seen enough.
Will Klein came in to face a pinch-hitter, and Geraldo Perdomo singled to left on the first pitch he saw, loading the bases with Arenado standing on third. One hit from a tie game. Arizona sent up another pinch-hitter in Pavin Smith, and Klein ran the count full. Ball four. Arenado walked in. The lead was down to one. Bases still loaded. Still only two outs.
Arizona challenged the walk call, hoping for a reprieve. The call was upheld. The crowd was as loud as it had been all night. Klein stood on the mound with a one-run lead, the bases juiced, and Tommy Troy standing between the Dodgers and a blown lead. Troy hit a sharp grounder to Freddie Freeman at first, who flipped to Mookie Betts covering second for the force out. Inning over. The Dodgers exhaled.
Scott Closes It Out
The eighth was clean. The ninth was cleaner. Tanner Scott came on with a one-run lead and needed three outs. He got Waldschmidt on a foul tip strikeout, Perdomo on a sacrifice bunt, and Smith on a groundout to second. Six pitches, three outs, ballgame. Scott’s sixth save of the season, his ERA still sitting at 2.10.
Blake Treinen picked up the win to improve to 2-1. Michael Soroka took the loss for Arizona, falling to 7-3 after surrendering four runs in 4.2 innings. The series is now tied at one game apiece heading into Wednesday.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers and Diamondbacks play Game 3 of their four-game series Wednesday at Chase Field. Shohei Ohtani takes the mound for Los Angeles after a dominant offensive performance Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PT.
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