Andy Pages’ homer leads Dodgers in Series-Evening Win

Tonight’s game followed an eerily similar script to last night’s game: the D-Backs’s offense is completely shut down by the Dodgers’ starting pitcher, the Arizona starting pitcher makes a couple mistakes, and the D-Backs’ bullpen keeps them in the game until they can take advantage of the porous Los Angeles bullpen. Of course, after last night’s incredibly dramatic comeback, I was desperately hoping to avoid that kind of tension this time around. Instead, through the first eight innings of tonight’s game, that’s exactly the kind of tension-filled scenario me and more than 43,000 at Chase Field had to endure. The final three frames included even more tension and excitement as the Dodgers outlasted the D-Backs 5-4 to even this series and the season series between the two teams.

Frankly, Ryne Nelson did exactly what he needed to do: limit the damage from the three MVPs at the top of the LA lineup as they had just three hits against the righty - albeit with a leadoff triple from Shohei Ohtani that immediately translated into the first Dodgers’ run off a Mookie Betts sacrifice fly. Outside of that first inning, Nelson was mostly able to scatter his seven allowed hits over the remaining five innings of his outing. But just like Brandon Pfaadt last night, Nelson made one fatal mistake with a hanging cutter to Andy Pages that was deposited in the left field bleachers for a 3-1 LA lead. Thankfully, his teammates in the lineup were able to get him off the hook for the loss, they just needed some time to find their groove.

After Blake Snell mostly dominated the Arizona lineup for six innings, Dave Roberts was forced to go to his bullpen - even if he didn’t particularly want to do so. His first choice, Roki Sasaki, made his return to the big leagues with his first career relief appearance and demonstrated some of the nasty pitch movement that made him such a coveted free agent this past offseason. Despite that movement and the spotless inning Sasaki posted, Roberts surprisingly elected to go to Alex Vesia who somehow posted a scoreless inning despite two walks last night. He wasn’t quite as fortunate this time around. After a sharp line drive out from pinch-hitter Jordan Lawlar, Vesia allowed three straight D-Backs to reach with a Ketel Marte single, walk to Geraldo Perdomo, and an RBI double from Corbin Carroll. That sequence was apparently enough for Roberts who lifted him for Edgardo Henriquez who promptly gave up an RBI single to Gabriel Moreno and put the tying run at third. Torey Lovullo, again pushing all the right buttons, pinch hit last night’s hero Adrian Del Castillo in for Blaze Alexander who again delivered with a sacrifice fly to tie the game 4-4.

That tie held through the ninth and visiting half of the 10th thanks to an incredible outfield assist from Carroll that nabbed pinch runner Hyeseong Kim at the plate off Betts’ single. The D-Backs had a golden opportunity to walk the game off in the home half of the 10th when the Dodgers intentionally loaded the bases for Jake McCarthy with one out needing just a batted ball beyond the infield. Sadly, McCarthy got the necessarily loft but not the distance with a harmless infield fly while James McCann flew out to end the inning and threat. Meanwhile, Tommy Edman, who had so many clutch hits for the Dodgers on their World Series win last season, had another one tonight as he looped a ball over Perdomo’s head to plate Freddie Freeman for their fifth and final run. The D-Backs had no response as they quietly went in order in the home half of the 11th to complete the heartbreak.

We’re now at the point of the season where every game is must win. The Mets’ second-half collapse is the only reason they are even in this position and they will need substantially more help from the Reds and Mets to complete this miraculous comeback. That’s partially what makes tonight so heartbreaking - both of those teams actually obliged and a win would have put the D-Backs into the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League. Unfortunately, the team couldn’t quite find the last clutch hit to put the finishing touches on yet another come-from-behind win. They’ll look to win the series and season series against the Dodgers - while crossing their digits that the rest of the teams ahead of them continue their collapses.

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