The Dodgers were cruising along with a 21-game lead in the National League West. Now, it has been cut in half.
What a difference a week and a half made, all at the hands of the Diamondbacks.
Pinch-hitter Adam Rosales doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as Arizona overcame a rare deficit to win 3-1 on Wednesday night for a franchise-record 13th straight win.
Photo: AP
“We’re battling, grinding and sticking together and those are things that make you win those close games and win 13 straight,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
The Diamondbacks’ winning streak is the second-longest in the majors this season behind Cleveland’s current 14 in a row.
They swept the Dodgers for the second consecutive week for the first time since September 2005 to keep a comfortable lead in the wild-card race.
Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY
“They’re the best team in baseball, they’ve been for the entirety of the season and we just have to find ways to win,” Diamondbacks catcher Chris Iannetta said.
Ketel Marte singled leading off the seventh against Luis Avilan (2-2). Rosales followed with a double to deep center, scoring the speedy Marte. David Peralta singled and J.D. Martinez was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Daniel Descalso was hit by Avilan, forcing in Rosales and extending Arizona’s lead to 3-1.
Photo: AFP
The Dodgers have lost a season-high six in a row and 11 of 12, with six of those defeats to the second-placed Diamondbacks. Los Angeles still owns baseball’s best record at 92-47.
“There’s really nothing to say, but we got to get a win,” manager Dave Roberts said.
The Dodgers briefly owned a 1-0 lead, an accomplishment in itself. The Diamondbacks had not trailed in their previous 97 innings, the second-longest stretch in the majors since 1900, until Cody Bellinger’s RBI groundout to second put Los Angeles ahead in the first.
Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY
However, they did not get a hit after the third inning.
Fernando Rodney pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 36th save.
The Diamondbacks tied it 1-1 in the second. A.J. Pollock reached on an error by shortstop Chris Taylor, stole second and came home on pitcher Taijuan Walker’s RBI double.
Walker (9-7) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, struck out four and walked three.
Los Angeles starter Kenta Maeda gave up one unearned run and four hits in five innings. He struck out eight and walked one.
In other games, it was:
‧ Indians 5, White Sox 1
‧ Cubs 1, Pirates 0
‧ Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 1
‧ Twins 10, Rays 6
‧ Nationals 8, Marlins 1
‧ Rangers 12, Braves 8, Game 1
‧ Braves 5, Rangers 4, Game 2
‧ Royals 13, Tigers 2
‧ Athletics 3, Angels 1
‧ Mets 6, Phillies 3, 6 innings
‧ Reds 7, Brewers 1
‧ Giants 11, Rockies 3
‧ Astros 5, Mariners 3
‧ Cardinals 3, Padres 1
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