PHOENIX (AP) – Alex Verdugo doubled and scored twice, and a struggling Los Angeles bullpen picked up injured starter Hyun-Jin Ryu to help the Dodgers defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Wednesday night.
The Dodgers ended a four-game losing streak and won after eight consecutive regular-season losses at Chase Field, home to the top team in the National League this season.
Verdugo, a 21-year-old outfielder from Tucson, scored a key insurance run in the eighth inning. He doubled off reliever T.J. McFarland, beat the throw to third on a wild pitch and came home on Yasmani Grandal’s sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jansen, right, greets catcher Yasmani Grandal after a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. The Dodgers won 2-1. (AP Photo/Matt York)
In the first, Verdugo doubled with one out and scored on Cody Bellinger’s single off Zack Godley (4-2), who allowed five hits in six sharp innings.
Three of the five Dodgers relievers had allowed at least a run in their previous outings, but all five combined to limit the Diamondbacks for 7 2/3 innings, including Kenley Jansen’s fourth save in six chances.
The Dodgers led 1-0 when Ryu, their most successful starter this season at 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA coming in, exited with a left groin strain.
After Ryu got the first out in the bottom of the second, manager Dave Roberts and a trainer came out of the dugout to check on him. Ryu stretched his legs and walked off the mound, his night over after two strikeouts, a hit and a walk allowed in 1 1/3 innings.
Pedro Baez relieved first and held the Diamondbacks scoreless for 2 2/3 innings. He worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth.
Daniel Hudson (1-0) tossed two innings and Tony Cingrani one. Josh Fields escaped a one-out, two-on situation in the eighth by inducing a double-play grounder from hot-hitting A.J. Pollock.
The Dodgers squandered opportunities themselves, grounding into three double plays.
Arizona rallied in the ninth against Jansen, who walked Daniel Descalso with two outs. Descalso scored on John Ryan Murphy’s soft single.
With pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson at second, Jansen got pinch-hitter Alex Avila to fly out, ending the game.
POLLOCK RECOGNIZED
Pollock was chosen National League player of the month for April. He had nine homers, 19 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs and an OPS of 1.021 in March and April.
“It was a great piece of recognition that he got and deserved,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “The first thing that came out of his mouth was, ‘It’s great, but we’re winning games and that’s the most important thing.'”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Tom Koehler, on the 60-day disabled list with a shoulder injury, is throwing from 75 feet. … OF Yasiel Puig (left hip bruise) could be back by May 8. … INF Logan Forsythe (shoulder soreness) played at nearby Camelback Ranch, the Dodgers’ spring home. He told Roberts he hopes to be ready for a rehab assignment this weekend. … LHP Rich Hill (finger) could rejoin the rotation Sunday against San Diego in Mexico, Roberts said.
Diamondbacks: OF Steve Souza Jr. (pectoral strain) had two at-bats and played five innings in extended spring training. He threw from 150 feet and told Lovullo he felt “fantastic.” … RHP Randall Delgado felt shoulder stiffness and had an injection Tuesday. He is on the disabled list with an oblique injury.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood looks for his first win of the season Thursday afternoon in the series finale. Wood (0-3) has a 5-4 career record against Arizona.
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (4-0) struck out a career-high 12 against the Dodgers on April 4.
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Los Angeles Dodger’ Alex Verdugo (61) scores on a sacrifice by Yasmani Grandal during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher John Ryan Murphy waits for the throw. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, center, talks with a trainer after an injury during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. Ryu left the game. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu leaves the baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks with an injury during the first inning Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Alex Verdugo (61) celebrates with Cody Bellinger (35) after scoring on a sacrifice by Yasmani Grandal during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix against the Arizona Diamondbacks. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley watches a pitch to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate a 2-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Pedro Baez throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers Alex Verdugo follows through on a double against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Los Angeles Dodgers Cody Bellinger follows through on an RBI base hit against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
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