April 23, 2017

Brandon McCarthy pitched seven strong innings and the Dodgers exploded for 6 runs in the 5th inning, as they defeated the D’Backs 6-2.  LA managed to salvage one game in their three game set with Arizona and avoided being swept.

McCarthy improved to 3-0, giving up 2 runs on five hits and striking out six in his seven innings of work.  The only two runs he allowed came on a 2-run shot from Paul Goldschmidt in the 1st inning.  The D’Backs could only muster two hits off McCarthy after that.

Shelby Miller took the loss for Arizona, falling to 2-2 on the year.  He made it through 4 shutout innings, and then the Dodger offense woke up in the 5th.  Miller walked the first two batters and then gave up an RBI double to Corey Seager, which made it 2-2.  McCarthy scored, as did Joc Pederson after an error by 2nd baseman Brandon Drury.  After throwing one more pitch, he was visited by the Arizona trainer, and left the mound after that.  There was no word on an injury.

Randall Delgado came in for the D’Backs and the Dodgers continued to do damage.  Adrian Gonzales doubled in Seager and Justin Turner, and suddenly, it was 4-2 LA.  The next batter was Yasmani Grandal, who capped the big inning with a 2-run shot to right center field.  It was his 3rd long ball of the season.

McCarthy and the bullpen took it from there.  Pedro Baez and Sergio Romo pitched the 8th and 9th inning, allowing just 2 hits over those two shutout innings.

The Diamondbacks lost at home for just the second time in ten games this season.  Meanwhile, the Dodgers improved to 9-10 on the year.  LA is in 3rd place in the NL West, 4 games back of the Rockies in the early going.

The Dodgers will now travel to San Francisco to take on the Giants for a four game set beginning Monday at AT&T Park.  Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-3; 5.87 ERA) will start the first game for the Dodgers, while the struggling Giants will counter with Matt Cain (1-0; 3.31 ERA).  San Francisco comes in with the worst record in the National League at 6-13.