Dodgers new signings key late-inning magic in win over Dbacks

The Dodgers must have wanted to hear the trumpets on Friday night.

Because right as new closer Edwin Díaz began to warm-up in the bottom of the eighth inning, their previously slumbering lineup finally came to life.

In a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers gave what had been a slog of a game a high-octane finish.

With the score tied 4-4 in the eighth, Alex Freeland hit a leadoff double and came around to score on a go-ahead RBI single from Kyle Tucker, his first signature moment since signing a $240 million deal this winter. 

That set the stage for the top of the ninth, when Edwin Díaz’s iconic, trumpet-filled entrance song “Narco” was performed by a live trumpeter out in left field.

Díaz took care of the inning, recording his first Dodgers save since signing a $69 million contract this offseason.

And all the offensive frustration that had been building up before then was quickly washed away, with the Dodgers securing a series win to open their pursuit of a third-straight World Series title. 

Before the late theatrics, the Dodgers had struggled to generate much at the plate.

Their first hit didn’t come until the third inning, when Freeland –– fresh off beating out Hyeseong Kim for the final spot on the roster this spring –– hit a solo home run.

Three batters later, Mookie Betts cranked an opposite-field shot for a three-run homer, turning an early two-run deficit into a two-run lead.

But after that, Dbacks pitchers retired 14 in a row, preserving what had become a 4-4 tie after Alek Thomas’ two-run double in the fourth.

That left a big task for the Dodgers’ bullpen, which was called into action early on a night Emmet Sheehan pitched only 3 ⅓ innings. Each arm they turned to, however, put a zero on the scoreboard; culminating in the playing of trumpets and a second-straight Dodgers win.

What it means

So far, so good for the Dodgers’ two marquee offseason signings.

In addition to his game-winning hit in the eighth, Tucker had two outfield assists on relay plays with Freeland at second. He also followed his eight-inning single with a stolen base, advancing all the way to third on a bad throw.

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Díaz, meanwhile, was able to skirt around trouble in the ninth, stranding a runner at second after a one-out walk and stolen base from Thomas.

The win clinches a series victory for the Dodgers to open the year.

Who’s hot

Alex Freeland didn’t hit much during the spring, winning a platoon job at second base despite a .125 Cactus League batting average.

But in his first regular-season start Friday, the 24-year-old rookie validated the team’s faith.

His third-inning home run came after he fell behind in the count 0-2 against Ryne Nelson, only to lay off a couple pitches and launch an inside fastball to the right-field pavilion. 

After that, he added his eighth-inning double on a line drive to the right-center field gap, setting up the game-winning rally. 

Who’s not

Emmet Sheehan was playing catch-up all spring, both with his pitching progression (thanks to an illness that put him behind schedule early in camp) and with his fastball velocity (which was a couple ticks below his average of 95.6 mph from last year).

In his season debut Friday, it showed. After striking out the side in the first, Sheehan gave up runs in the second (on an Alek Thomas double) and third (on a Ketel Marte 3-0 homer) before allowing two runners to reach before being removed in the fourth –– with his limited pitch count already up to 83.

The right-hander’s fastball velocity remained down, averaging just 94 mph. And while he finished with six strikeouts, he also allowed five hits, two walks and four runs, with the runners he left behind coming around to score against Jack Dreyer.

Up next

The Dodgers go for a series sweep on Saturday, when Tyler Glasnow will make his season debut following a promising performance this spring. The Dbacks will counter with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, the veteran pitcher who infamously nixed a trade to the Dodgers at the 2023 deadline.