Diamondbacks rally to win over Dodgers with 9 runs in 8th inning

A balk and walk, both with the bases loaded, were just the catalysts the Diamondbacks needed to rally past the Dodgers on Friday at Chase Field for a 13-5 win that was fueled by a nine-run eighth.

“Quite a day, highlighted by a very impressive eighth inning against some quality pitchers,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “… It was much needed after a couple of lean games, offensively. Exactly what we needed.”

• A 7-1 start at home also tied the club record set in 2008.
• “Just an awesome game to come out on top of,” shortstop Chris Owings said. “Just credit to every single guy in the lineup not giving up and just going out there and competing. Hats off to everybody. It was just a team effort. Just one you can look back on and just smile.”
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• After Brandon Drury led off the inning with a double and David Peralta followed that up with a single, Chris Iannetta walked and so did pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso to tie it at 5. Right-hander Sergio Romo replaced lefty Luis Avilan and was charged with a balk to bring in another run. Romo got A.J. Pollock to strike out but walked Owings before Paul Goldschmidt added a two-run single.

Later in the inning, Yasmany Tomas connected for a two-run double, Iannetta singled in two more and Descalso singled in another.

“It really was just a great team inning there,” Goldschmidt said. “Guys not trying to do too much knowing we had a close game and then once we had the lead just hanging on.”

It was the sixth time in team history the Diamondbacks scored nine or more runs in an inning, and their nine runs scored were the most in a single inning against the Dodgers. Arizona also tied a club record with five walks in the inning.

“It’s just a lot of fun,” Owings said. “You just feel like nobody’s going to get out. It’s just contagious. You go up to bat with a lot of confidence, and you expect something good to happen.”

The outburst capped off a comeback that started when right-hander Archie Bradley’s scoreless streak to start the season was snapped at 9 1/3 innings by pinch-hitter Chris Taylor’s home run in the seventh to put the Dodgers up 5-4. But after pitching a one-two-three eighth, Bradley ended up earning his first win of the season after the Arizona’s offense finally persevered.

In the sixth and seventh innings, the Diamondbacks had runners in scoring position with less than two outs but couldn’t bring any men home.

“I know as a group they were very positive and talking about ‘Keep grinding, keep making it happen and keep creating those opportunities and something is going to give,'” Lovullo said. “Obviously, you don’t think it’s going to give the way it did for nine runs, but we were very satisfied with how the guys were creating opportunities and felt like it was a matter of time before we were able to take advantage of it and finally score some runs.”

All of the Dodgers’ other runs were charged to starter Taijuan Walker, who gave up a two-run homer and RBI single to Corey Seager. Pollock, who finished 3-for-5 and just a triple shy of the cycle, launched his first career leadoff home run in the first.

“I feel like I made some good pitches, and they hit some really good pitches, too,” Walker said. “They just found holes. Our offense gave me the lead, and I didn’t hold the lead and I need to do a better job of that. But we scored nine runs in the eighth, so it’s a good game. It was huge. Everyone was taking really good at-bats. There were some tough pitchers out there, and everyone had really good at-bats and battled.

“Walks and balks and doubles and everything. There was pretty much everything in that inning.”

Saturday’s game

Dodgers at Diamondbacks

When: 5:10 p.m.

Where: Chase Field.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.96) vs. Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (1-1, 7.07).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

After a tough start during his last time out, Ray settled in to give up just one earned run to the Dodgers in six innings while striking out 10 and walking four; overall, he’s 3-3 with a 2.80 ERA in nine career starts against Los Angeles. … His .180 average-against is the second lowest all-time vs. the Dodgers (minimum of eight games started). … Ray’s steady start to the season has ranked him among NL leaders in opponent average (second at .161), strikeouts per nine innings (second at 11.78) and strikeouts (tied for sixth with 24). … Maeda has struggled to find an early rhythm; he’s given up four runs in each of his past two appearances – including his last start against the Diamondbacks. … Through three games, however, he’s walked only four batters. … Amid three career starts at Chase Field, Maeda is 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA while striking out 17 and walking five.

Coming up

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (2-1, 3.50) vs. Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 2.12).

Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (1-2, 3.28) vs. Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2-2, 4.70).

Tuesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (1-3, 3.27) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (2-2, 3.04).