Diamondbacks rally past Dodgers 3‑2 in ninth

PHOENIX (Interstat) — Ketel Marte launched a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night at Chase Field.

Marte’s blast to left field off Tanner Scott capped a late comeback that erased a 2-0 deficit. The Diamondbacks scored twice in the eighth inning on Corbin Carroll’s solo homer and Geraldo Perdomo’s run-scoring single, then Marte delivered the game-winner with one out in the ninth.

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. Ryan Ward doubled in Santiago Espinal, and Dalton Rushing followed with a single that scored Ward. That was all the offense Los Angeles could muster against Arizona starter Ryne Nelson, who worked seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski matched Nelson through six shutout innings, scattering six hits and striking out four. But the Dodgers’ bullpen could not hold the lead. After Los Angeles failed to add insurance in the top of the eighth, Arizona struck back in the bottom half.

Carroll led off the eighth with his ninth home run of the season, a fly ball to right field, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After Gabriel Moreno walked, Nolan Arenado struck out, but Ryan Waldschmidt singled, putting runners at first and second. Jorge Barrosa flied out, but Perdomo singled to center, scoring Moreno and tying the game at 2-2. Jose Fernandez popped out to end the inning, but the damage was done.

The Dodgers went quietly in the top of the ninth against Paul Sewald. Andy Pages popped out, Kyle Tucker struck out, and though Will Smith doubled, Santiago Espinal struck out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the ninth, Scott retired Tommy Troy on strikes, then Marte crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall for his 11th home run.

Sewald earned the win, improving to 2-4. He pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit and striking out two. Scott took the loss, falling to 1-3. He retired only one batter, giving up one hit and one earned run while striking out one.

Wrobleski’s performance was the highlight for the Dodgers. The rookie allowed no earned runs over six innings, leaving with a 2-0 lead. Brandyn Garcia worked a scoreless eighth for Arizona, and Kyle Hurt and Alex Vesia each tossed scoreless relief for Los Angeles before Scott’s misstep.

Carroll finished 3 for 4 with the homer and an RBI. Perdomo went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Ward was 1 for 2 with a double and an RBI for Los Angeles. Espinal had two hits, including a single, and scored a run.

The attendance was 41,999, and the game lasted 2 hours, 22 minutes.

The Dodgers entered the game with a 40-22 record, the best in the National League, while the Diamondbacks were 32-29. After the loss, Los Angeles fell to 40-23, and Arizona improved to 33-29.

The four-game series at Chase Field ended in a split. The Dodgers won the opener Monday 1-4? Actually the series began with Arizona’s 4-1 victory on Monday, followed by Los Angeles winning 6-5 on Tuesday and 7-0 on Wednesday before Thursday’s walk-off defeat.

Los Angeles will return home to face the Los Angeles Angels in a three-game series starting Friday. The Diamondbacks host the Washington Nationals for a three-game set beginning Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-6 Dodgers victory, but the actual total of five runs went under the over/under line of 9.5. Los Angeles had been installed as a -1.5 favorite with a 60.60 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system.