Freddie Freeman's grand slam powers Dodgers past Diamondbacks

Field Level Media|published: Tue 21st May, 01:22 2024

May 20, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) hits a grand slam home run in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Freddie Freeman hit a grand slam in a six-run third inning that included three home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-1) gave up two runs over 6 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts as the Dodgers won their fourth consecutive game and improved to 3-1 against the Diamondbacks after they were swept out of the playoffs by their National League West rival last season.

Enrique Hernandez and Will Smith also hit third-inning homers as Los Angeles improved their National League-best long-ball total to 66.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jake McCarthy hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning for the Diamondbacks, who are 4-6 since May 10.

Kevin Newman had three hits and an RBI for Arizona, while right-hander Slade Cecconi (1-4) entered after opener Joe Mantiply and gave up all six third-inning runs. Cecconi was perfect over the final three innings of his five-inning outing and retired the last 12 batters he faced.

The Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead in the third on an RBI single from Joc Pederson against his former club. The Dodgers' response was emphatic when Hernandez hit his third home run of the season before Los Angeles loaded the bases on two singles and a walk to Shohei Ohtani.

Freeman drove a 2-1 fastball over the center field wall for his fifth homer, and Smith followed with his fifth of the season five pitches later for back-to-back homers and a 6-1 advantage. Freeman had two hits and his four RBIs with one swing matched his total from the previous 12 games.

The Diamondbacks began to inch back in the seventh inning on an RBI single from Newman, before Gurriel and McCarthy hit consecutive home runs in the eighth off Elieser Hernandez to cut the deficit to 6-4. Gurriel has six on the season, while McCarthy has two.

Gurriel had two hits Sunday and then Monday's homer after he did not start Saturday amid some early-season struggles.

Dodgers right-hander Daniel Hudson pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his third save.

--Field Level Media

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