Dodgers 4, Diamondbacks 1: Bullpen Holds The Fort For Utley, Seager

The Dodgers carried a four-game losing streak in tonight’s game, and things looked bleak after Zack Greinke was scratched with calf soreness. But the Dodgers managed to come through late to scratch together a 4-1 victory over the Diamondbacks thanks to the bullpen, Chase Utley, and Corey Seager.

—–

The game got off to an interesting start, as Utley homered on the first pitch he saw from Chase Anderson in the bottom of the first.

A.J. Pollock finished a total of like three inches from robbing the Dodgers of two homers this series.

No matter though, as Paul Goldschmidt then responded by homering off the first pitch he saw from Carlos Frias in the top of the second. Dude is an alien, IMO.

It sure looked like the game was headed for some kind of high-scoring affair, but basically the opposite happened. Speaking of bleak, that’s what the Dodgers run-scoring outlook resembled after Anderson struck out 10 in his six innings of work, with the only hit allowed being the lead-off homer. The Dodgers ended up being one-hit through seven innings.

But that all changed in the eighth, when a lead-off bunt single from Jimmy Rollins and a sacrifice that certainly seemed to make sense strategically from Ronald Torreyes set the stage for Utley again.

Hero.

The D-Backs, for whatever reason, then went to a lefty for Seager. I say “for whatever reason” because I’m not convinced he doesn’t actually like hitting against off-speed from lefties compared to righties.

https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/646903785785200640

Moments later, well:

Kenley Jansen then entered for the ninth and shut the door, securing the win and ending the losing streak.

And speaking of the bullpen, none of this would’ve been possible without them. Frias was forced into a starting role and allowed just a hit and two walks in four innings of one-run ball, and he was the only one that gave up a run. Ian Thomas, Pedro Baez, Luis Avilan, Chris Hatcher, and Jansen combined for five scoreless innings, surrendering only four hits.

Remarkable, considering.

—–

The Mets fell to the Braves, 6-3, meaning the Dodgers’ lead for home-field advantage in the NLDS was extended to 1.5 games again. The Giants currently lead the Padres, 3-2, meaning the current 6.5-game lead may go back down to six shortly.