PHOENIX —
Will Smith hit a three-run homer in the late innings, Shohei Ohtani hit his 43rd homer of the season and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their lead atop the NL West to five games by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-9 on Friday night.
Arizona’s late-season surge set the stage for this crucial four-game series. An expectant crowd gathered to witness a rematch of last season’s division series, which the Diamondbacks won on their way to the World Series.
The sold-out crowd at Chase Field witnessed a spectacle that included a combined 10 runs over the first three innings, a thumb injury that sidelined Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw and a run scored on a pitching violation.
Freddie Freeman did the most damage with a two-run homer in the first inning after missing three straight games to rest a broken middle finger on his right hand. Smith gave the Dodgers a 9-5 lead in the seventh, sending the ball just over the left-field wall for a three-run homer.
Ohtani hit a solo homer in the eighth inning. He also had a double and his 43rd steal of the season, a day after going 0-for-5 against Baltimore.
Arizona and San Diego are now five games apart.
Ryan Brasier (1-0) allowed one hit in the fifth inning to earn the win. Dylan Floro (5-4) took the loss.
For the Dodgers, Dominican Teoscar Hernandez was 1-for-4 with one run scored. Puerto Rican Kiké Hernandez was 0-for-2. Venezuelan Miguel Rojas was 1-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
For the Diamondbacks, Dominican Geraldo Perdomo was 1-for-4 with one run scored. Cuban Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was 0-for-4 with one run scored. Venezuelans Eugenio Suárez was 1-for-4 with one run scored and three RBIs, Luis Guillorme was 0-for-1, and José Herrera was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
