Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The quest for an opening series sweep ran into some trouble early, as the Diamondbacks once again jumped out to a 2-0 lead early on. But the Dodgers clawed back a run despite their offensive struggles, and all of a sudden in the 8th, it was a walk and blast from Will Smith that turned it around for a 3-2 win and a sweep.
Celebrating Will Smith Bobblehead Night with his girls, Cara, Charlotte and Layton. 💙 pic.twitter.com/Pia1KQotBy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 29, 2026
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Tyler Glasnow took the ball for the Dodgers and was victimized immediately by the speed of the D-backs. Corbin Carroll legged out an infield single with one-out, got to second on a weird pinball play off Freddie Freeman to Glasnow and back to Freddie for an out.
Freddie and Glasnow with a pinball play for an out. pic.twitter.com/DXUZHnaMFx
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
Carroll then scored easily on a groundball single from Pavin Smith.
After a clean 2nd, a groundball double down the line from Jorge Barros started the 3rd, he got to third on a groundout, and then scored on a Carroll sac fly to make it 2-0 D-backs.
Glasnow then cruised over the final three innings, going scoreless thanks in part to Kyle Tucker‘s casual homer robbery.
Kyle Tucker with a (relatively routine) homer robbery. pic.twitter.com/WiFdNYii0C
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
Basically all BABIP damage, so hard to complain: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 90 Pitches.
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Meanwhile, the Dodgers were putting on their best Team USA impression against Eduardo Rodriguez, as they were unable to get another across against him.
A walk in the 1st was erased by a double play, a single was stranded in the 2nd, and a one-out single and walk in the 3rd gave them two cracks with RISP that led to nothing. A one-out single in the 4th similarly was wasted, and another one-out single in the 5th was erased by another double play.
Bleak.
But they got a break in the 6th when Carlos Santana bobbled a Tucker grounder for a runner that knocked Rodriguez out of the game. Eventually Tucker stole second after getting a huge jump, then he scored on a Freddie Freeman double (his third hit) with two outs to make it 2-1 D-backs.
Freddie's third hit of the day is a double to cut the deficit in half. pic.twitter.com/zhDaJHa4pf
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
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Meanwhile, for the pen Alex Vesia entered for the 7th had was full of energy in a 1-2-3 frame.
Vesia's energy needs to be studied. pic.twitter.com/vpJWssQeQJ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
In the 8th, Will Klein took over and moved up the trust tree by getting a strikeout and then three weak contact from their best got him a scoreless frame.
Klein with a strikeout then an infield single deflected off his glove, a bouncer, and infield pop against their best. Promising. pic.twitter.com/Dq35mNuPqQ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
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They then went down quietly in the 7th and made two quick outs in the 8th, but a walk to Mookie Betts gave the Dodgers life. And that life was cashed in by Will Smith crushing a 2-2 fastball to dead center for a 3-2 lead.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILL SMITH! pic.twitter.com/WTIuYcWJJy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 29, 2026
I mean, of course he did. Of course.
That setup the trumpets and Edwin Diaz for the save in the 9th. He got three flyball outs to reduce my stress levels.
Great start.
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Ketel Marte and Freddie Freeman with a wholesome moment.
Ketel and Freddie embrace for the final out of the inning. pic.twitter.com/etXPpQd8qS
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
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Sweep.
The Dodgers already have a day off tomorrow despite still being at home, and they’ll resume the season with a three-game set against the Guardians starting at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Roki Sasaki making his season debut against Parker Messick.
