Field Level Media
Aug 31, 2018
David Peralta hit a three-run home run Thursday, and Robbie Ray won for the first time since June 27 as the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks maintained their lead in the National League West with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In taking the opening game of a four-game showdown series at Dodger Stadium, the Diamondbacks moved two games in front of the third-place Dodgers. The second-place Colorado Rockies lost in 13 innings at San Diego and are now 1 1/2 back.
The Dodgers' season-high-tying five-game winning streak came to an end.
Ray's dominance in Los Angeles continued Thursday. He gave up one run over 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and now has a 1.80 ERA over eight career starts at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander's franchise-record seven consecutive starts without a decision came to an end.
Ray (4-2) also improved to 11-2 on the road since the start of 2017, with a 2.24 ERA. He has a 2.90 ERA over 10 road starts this season.
Relievers Brad Ziegler, Jake Diekman, Yoshihisa Hirano, Andrew Chafin and Brad Boxberger held the Dodgers scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings. Boxberger picked up his 31st save. Diamondbacks pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.
The Dodgers' Manny Machado continued his hot run, hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning to knock Ray from the game. It was Machado's 33rd home run and ninth with the Dodgers. He also has seven home runs in his last 12 games and has driven in a run in five consecutive contests.
Peralta broke up a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with his 26th home run, 10 of which have come in August. His low line drive over the wall in right field with two outs came on the first pitch from Dodgers starter Rich Hill.
In his shortest start since July 4, Hill (6-5) lasted just five innings, giving up three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and no walks.
It was the first meeting between the division rivals since May 9. The two teams played 12 times during the season's first six weeks, with the Diamondbacks winning eight of those. Arizona has now won 15 of the last 19 regular-season games against the Dodgers going back to last season.
--Field Level Media