D-backs Stumble in Series With Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt kneels down as an injured teammate is looked at during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Michael Owen Baker)

The Arizona Diamondbacks were hoping to get some cushion between them and the Dodgers and Rockies when heading to Los Angeles. They return home now third place in the National League West. The Snakes dropped three of the four games against the Dodgers and now sit at 74-63.

August 30th: Diamondbacks win 3-1
August 31st: Dodgers win 3-2
September 1st: Dodgers win 3-2
September 2nd:Dodgers win 3-2

Quiet Bats

In the Diamondbacks’ seven-game road trip, they scored 12 runs. The bats have been quiet, often coming in small spurts. The three runs that came in the team’s lone series win was all off a David Peralta three-run home run. Across the board, the bats have been cold, but no one’s has been colder than A.J. Pollock’s, who is batting 1/28 since August 26th.

Bullpen Struggles

The Dodgers scored eight of their ten runs in the sixth inning or later this series, and Matt Kemp had late inning heroics against Archie Bradley in the final two games of the series. The first matchup resulted in a three-run home run. The second was a two-RBI walk-off double that scored runners put on by Brad Boxberger. 

Daniel Descalso

One bright spot for the Diamondbacks in this series was Daniel Descalso, who hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth of Sunday’s game. He has crushed the Dodgers, and, as expected, been clutch in late-game situations.

The third-place Diamondbacks head home to take on the San Diego Padres in a two-game series followed by a four-game set with the Braves.