The Arizona Diamondbacks have gone into Dodger Stadium and stunned the baseball world by taking two games from the 100-win Los Angeles Dodgers. The D-backs were just 84-78 in the regular season. And yet, with a 4-2 win in Game 2 of the NLDS, they hold a 2-0 lead over the Dodgers in the best-of-five series.
The NL West champs are on the ropes in the postseason series, and the Dodgers must now win three straight games or get upset in the NLDS by a divisional foe for the second year in a row.
Let's break down four takeaways from Game 2.
The Diamondbacks torched Clayton Kershaw for six runs in the first inning of Game 1 and while this one wasn't as bad, it had to be pretty demoralizing for the Dodgers. In Game 2, the D-backs jumped on rookie Dodgers starter Bobby Miller for three runs in the first.
Corbin Carroll, one of the best table-setters in baseball, drew a walk before Ketel Marte bunted for a hit. Tommy Pham followed with a single before Christian Walker's sac fly. After a groundout scored Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. singled home Pham.
We didn't know it then, but those would end up being all the runs the D-backs needed. Gurriel added a home run later for good measure and it would end up counting as insurance.
D-backs ace Zac Gallen started the All-Star Game and will finish quite highly in NL Cy Young voting, but the line on this start doesn't scream dominance. He allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings while striking out four. That's ... adequate. It was kind of like when you react with a slow head nod and say something like, "OK, I guess that'll do." It certainly isn't a complaint, but it's kind of a lukewarm positive.
He allowed two baserunners in the first inning but struck out J.D. Martinez to strand them. He then retired eight more in a row before allowing a Martinez homer. He allowed two baserunners in the fifth before getting a weak grounder from Mookie Betts and striking out Freddie Freeman. He was removed after allowing two straight one-out singles in the sixth and bullpen allowed a run before buckling down and getting out of it.
If he was at his best, he wouldn't have allowed those potential big innings, but he mostly worked out of them (or had his teammates help get out of it). It also could have been much, much worse if Martinez and/or Freeman had made him pay during those rallies. Given that it's a postseason start where his team spotted him three runs in the first and he had a chance to bury the Dodgers in a two-game hole, though, it was perfectly acceptable.
The Dodgers left two on base in the first. They again left two on in the fifth before leaving the bases loaded in the sixth. Freeman hit into a double play after Betts reached to start the seventh. A double play ended the eighth.
In all, the Dodgers certainly had their chances. They were 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. In a 4-2 game, these types of things can look glaring.
Arizona's bullpen was maligned for a decent chunk of the season, but they started to get things together down the stretch. In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, they worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings to slam the door shut against the Brewers. In Game 2, it was three scoreless to finish the sweep. Saturday, in Game 1 of the NLDS, the bullpen wasn't really important due to such a huge lead all game in addition to starter Merrill Kelly's great work.
They were under the spotlight again here in Game 2 and did the job. One inherited runner from Gallen scored, but Andrew Saalfrank, Ryan Thompson, Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless work, allowing just one hit.
Arizona again got to a Dodgers starter early, as the plated three runs in first inning against Bobby Miller. The Diamondbacks now lead the best-of-five NLDS 2-0. Game 3, an elimination game for the 100-win Dodgers, will be on Wednesday in Phoenix.
Two down. Outman strikes out.
One down. Really hard line drive right at LF Gurriel. He brought it in.
The Dodgers are staring down an 0-2 series deficit without at least two runs here. It'll be Kiké Hernández, Josh Outman and Kolten Wong before, they hope, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. D-backs closer Paul Sewald takes the mound.
D-backs miss a chance to tack on some insurance. Going into the bottom of the ninth, they still hold a 4-2 lead over the Dodgers and have a 93.5% chance of winning Game 2.
Second GIDP in as many innings for the Dodgers if replay upholds it.
Dodgers have six offfensive outs to get two or more runs or they're going to be in a very bad spot in this series.
4-6-3 and the Dodgers are down to seven outs in this one.
Mookie Betts is on to lead off the seventh and now it's Freddie Freeman with Will Smith on deck.
Wong harmlessly bounces out to first.
Saalfrank gets Outman swinging. So it'll be the bases loaded and two out for Kolten Wong with Ryan Thompson coming into the game for Arizona.
Ketel Marte saves a run with a diving play on a grounder up the middle, but the Dodgers push across a run and still have the bases juiced.
Bouncer up the middle and everyone moves station to station. It was an incredible play by Ketel Marte to grab the ball with his glove and keep it in the infield. Josh Outman to the plate.
Chris Taylor, pinch hitting for Jason Heyward, takes a walk. Now Kiké Hernández to the plate.
Dodgers will bring the potential go-ahead run to the plate with one out in the sixth.
Andrew Saalfrank, from Indiana University (do not call us "the University of Indiana," because that is wrong and dumb) on to pitch for Arizona.
With one out, Max Muncy and JD Martinez single and that's gonna be it for Zac Gallen. Can the D-backs' bullpen hold this one?
The Diamondbacks had a 3-1 lead entering the sixth inning and it'll be 4-1 heading to the bottom half, thanks to Arizona left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hitting a home run.
That was the first career playoff home run for Gurriel and he now has an RBI in three of the D-backs four playoff games this postseason. His brother, Yuli, has eight career playoff home runs, all coming with the Astros.
Lourdes had 24 homers and 82 RBI in the regular season for the Diamondbacks.
D-backs push the lead to 4-1, and they now have a 85.4% chance of winning Game 2 and taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
A knee-buckler from Gallen drops right into the middle of the strike zone. Freeman was frozen. Strike three. Inning over. Diamondbacks lead 3-1 through five.
3-2, 2 outs ... Betts will be running from first on the pitch
Betts with a fielder's choice, so it's runners at first and third for Freddie Freeman, who will finish top four in NL MVP voting.
With one out, Josh Outman walked and Miguel Rojas singled and here comes Mookie Betts.
The Dodgers scored two runs in Game 1, but it was after the game was already out of hand in an 11-2 loss. The Diamondbacks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning in Game 2 and that was the score heading to the bottom of the third. Talk about giving your home fans nothin to cheer about.
J.D. Martinez tried to do his part with this opposite-field blast in Game 2.
The Dodgers still trail 3-1, but at least they are on the board. It's something to build on.
For Martinez, that is his 10th career postseason home run, but his first with the Dodgers. He had two for the Tigers, one for the Diamondbacks and six for the Red Sox.
D-backs hitters have five hard-hit balls through three innings.
Graterol has gotten four outs on nine pitches. He might go back out there for the fourth.
It's only the second inning but that felt pretty big. The D-backs had runners at first and second with one out and the 2-3-4 hitters coming up. Didn't get anything out of it. They're still up 3-0 with Gallen on the mound though.
D-backs presently have a 78.5% chance of winning Game 2.
Dodgers starters got six outs in Games 1 and 2. I reckon Miller would still be in if not for the off-day yesterday and off-day tomorrow.
