Longoria Key in D-backs' Win Over Kershaw, Dodgers

The Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 at Chase Field in front of a crowd of 30,249. It was their most complete victory of the season, with a gutsy start from Madison Bumgarner, some big hits late in the game, and the bullpen shut down the Dodgers for the final 4.1 innings to secure the victory.

"Today was the type of game I'm waiting for" said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. "These guys have been working their tails off offensively and you can see we had a great approach, timely hitting, built innings, capitalized. It was against somebody who typically gives us fits, we fell down early, but we just kept fighting."

The D-backs hitters did a good job of battling Clayton Kershaw in this game. Every time the Dodgers took the lead, Arizona came back with a counterpunch. They broke through in the sixth, thanks to back-to-back home runs by Evan Longoria and Corbin Carroll that gave them the lead for good.

Longoria and Carroll go back-to-back off Kershaw in the 6th. pic.twitter.com/o8WGbGyw14
— Michael McDermott (@MichaelMcD8393) April 8, 2023

"It felt good to get some results of Kershaw, I haven't historically fared well against him" said Longoria. "In the last five times I've faced him, I've picked a pitch and a spot to swing to and hopefully it's there. With the home run I sold out to the pitch down there and thankfully I was able to get the barrel to there."

Longoria, who the team brought in as a veteran presence and to add more thump in the lineup against left-handed starters, was the main catalyst in the offense. He reached base in all four trips to the plate, with a walk, single, double, and a big home run. All three innings he recorded a hit, the D-backs scored at least one run. Before the game, Lovullo called his veteran third baseman a "baseball savant" and a professional hitter. For the D-backs to be a winning team, it's important for veterans such as Longoria to not only provide a mentorship role but also contribute on the field when called upon.

Madison Bumgarner labored for 4.2 innings, as the veteran left-hander allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits, six walks, and five strikeouts. Despite allowing two home runs and consistently pitching with traffic on the bases, he was able to limit the damage by holding the Dodgers to 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position while on the mound. It was a gut check type of outing, but enough to keep Arizona in the game long enough for the offense to take the lead.

"Not my best, but we won" said Bumgarner. "I know that's not the key to success, but that's all that matters. If that's all it takes to win, sign me up". The veteran left-hander said his arm felt better than his last start, with his velocity also being half a MPH higher.

The biggest moment of the game came in the fifth, as a single and two walks loaded the bases for Chris Taylor. Lovullo summoned rookie right-hander Drey Jameson out of the bullpen and he was able to retire Taylor on a ground ball to short. Jameson would pitch Arizona through the seventh, picking up his third win in as many appearances against the Dodgers.

With a one-run lead entering the bottom of the eighth and the top of the Dodgers order looming, the D-backs were able to plate two key insurance runs. Longoria doubled with one out then advanced to third on Carroll's groundout. Nick Ahmed hit a swinging bunt to third that Max Muncy could not cleanly field to score the first run. After a stolen base, Gabriel Moreno followed up with a double into the right field corner to give Arizona a three-run cushion.

A big insurance knock for Moreno. pic.twitter.com/MpcLq7DIrk
— Michael McDermott (@MichaelMcD8393) April 8, 2023

The D-backs matched up their bullpen for the final six outs of the game, with Miguel Castro retiring four of the five hitters he faced on a pair of strikeouts and comebackers to the mound. Andrew Chafin came in and walked Freddie Freeman to start his night, but bounced back to strike out J.D. Martinez and Max Muncy to close it out for his second save of the season.

The D-backs will take on the Dodgers for the third game of a four-game series at Chase Field tomorrow. Right-handers Zach Davies and Noah Syndergaard will toe the rubber for Arizona and Los Angeles. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10PM MST.