Dodgers Team News

Dodgers Highlights: Mookie Betts Walks It Off to Beat Arizona

The Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks, 3-2, on a walkoff single by Mookie Betts that capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Cody Bellinger led off the ninth with a double off the wall in right. After a Trea Turner groundout, Freddie Freeman worked a 2-0 count before being intentionally walked, and Will Smith followed with an infield single to load the bases.



Arizona manager Torey Lovullo brought in All-Star lefty Joe Mantiply to face Max Muncy, but the result was the same, as Muncy tapped an infield single to tie the game.

Justin Turner struck out, which brought up Betts, pinch-hitting for Joey Gallo. Betts, who had the night off from the starting lineup, worked the count full and fouled off the first 3-2 pitch, and then he lined the second 3-2 pitch into left field for a game-winning hit.

No 20-win season for Julio

Urias was pulled with one out and a runner on second in the top of the sixth inning with the game tied, 1-1. Evan Phillips came in and struck out both batters he faced to keep the game tied, saving Julio from being on the hook for a loss. But by exiting a tie game, Urias was assured of not earning a win in this game, which eliminated his chance of getting to 20 wins this season.

Urias will only get two more starts this season, so he’d seemingly be capped at 19 wins barring something really weird.

Gallen silences the Dodgers bats

Zac Gallen is a very good pitcher, and the Dodgers were reminded of that on Thursday night. Gallen retired the first 11 hitters he saw, then allowed a bloop triple to Will Smith and an RBI double to Max Muncy. How did Gallen respond? He retired the next 13 hitters he faced.

Overall, Gallen allowed just the two hits and one run in eight innings pitched, striking out a career-high 13 hitters.

Successful return for Brusdar

Brusdar Graterol pitched for the first time since August 28 and just the fifth time since July 10, throwing a 1-2-3 top of the eighth inning. He induced two groundouts, then struck out Corbin Carroll to end the inning.

Graterol threw 16 pitches, 12 of them for strikes. He hit 100 MPH on the radar gun three times.

Kimbrel lets it go

Craig Kimbrel didn’t hit Jake McCarthy to lead off the ninth inning, but McCarthy said he did and the umpires didn’t think it was their place to argue with that assertion. Luckily, McCarthy got himself thrown out at second base when he couldn’t stay on the bag.

Unfortunately, Christian Walker then untied the game with a home run to left-center field, because he’s Christian Walker and that’s what Christian Walker does, because Christian Walker is kind of a jerk.

It’s the latest stumble in a season of stumbles for Kimbrel, whose grasp on the postseason role remains tenuous at best.

Maybe Kimbrel just wanted to pad his win total, as he ended up the winning pitcher.

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Up next

The Cardinals come to town for a three-game weekend series that will mark the return of Albert Pujols as he chases 700 home runs. Andrew Heaney will take on Jose Quintana at 7:10 pm PT.

Jeff Snider

Jeff was born into a Dodgers family in Southern California and is now raising a Dodgers family of his own in Utah. During his previous career as an executive at a technology company, he began writing about baseball in his spare time. After leaving corporate America in 2014, he started doing it professionally. Jeff wrote and edited for Baseball Essential for years before joining Dodgers Nation. He's also the co-host of the Locked On Dodgers podcast, a daily podcast that brings the smart fan's perspective on our Boys in Blue. Jeff has a degree in English from Brigham Young University. Favorite Player: Clayton Kershaw Favorite Moment: Kirk Gibson's homer will always have a place, but Kershaw's homer on Opening Day 2013 might be the winner.

2 Comments

  1. Kimbrel almost gave it away again. Stop the insanity now!!! My cardiologist won’t allow me to watch any more ninth innings.

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