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The Arizona Diamondbacks split a two-game series with the LA Dodgers on Wednesday. The D-backs have taken 8 of their 12 meetings with the Dodgers so far this season. The NL West rivals won’t meet again until the end of August.
May 8: Diamondbacks win 8-5, 12 innings
May 9: Diamondbacks lose 6-3
Bullpen notes
The Diamondbacks bullpen was tested by the Dodgers again in this week’s matchups. On Tuesday, Brad Boxberger had his first blown save of the year, but was picked up with three scoreless innings by Yoshi Hirano, Silvino Bracho and TJ McFarland. McFarland got the win.
On Wednesday, the wear on the bullpen from Tuesday’s late night showed.
Andrew Chafin has now gone three consecutive outings without being able to get an out.
This is the third straight appearance that Andrew Chafin has failed to record an out. Fourth time overall in 17 appearances.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) May 10, 2018
Silvino Bracho had two HBPs both to Chris Taylor in each game. In the sixth on Wednesday, Bracho hit Taylor with the bases loaded scoring one run, then a wild pitch to Hernandez would score another run, both runs were credited to Fernando Salas. In the seventh, it was three up, three down for Bracho before he was replaced by Jorge De La Rosa in the eighth.
De La Rosa gave up two hits, a single from Yasiel Puig and a two-run double by Dodgers’ Chase Utley, sealing the 6-3 win for LA.
Descalso lifts D-backs to extra inning win
Daniel Descalso has seen success against the Dodgers this season. Three of Descalso’s four home runs this year have been against LA. On Tuesday, Descalso contributed to some extra inning heroics with a three-run homer in the 12th to lift the D-backs to an 8-5 win.
Wednesday, Descalso entered the game in the sixth playing third base. He entered the box and hit his seventh double of the year, second against the Dodgers. In 2018, against the Dodgers, Descalso is batting .333 with two doubles, three home runs, three triples and 10 RBIs.
The Diamondbacks had four home runs in the win on Tuesday. The first coming from AJ Pollock in the first inning, Chris Owings in the third inning, John Ryan Murphy in the fourth and then Descalso in the 12th.
Inside the park-er
Nick Ahmed hit his first career inside the park home run against the Dodgers on Wednesday. A hard hit ball by Ahmed, combined with Kike Hernandez’s tough play off the wall and Ahmed’s speed on the bases led to the infielder’s sixth home run of the year.
Ahmed made it around the horn in 15.43 seconds, the fastest time around the bases recorded by Statcast this year.
Nick Ahmed with a rare inside-the-park home run! Holy smokes! 1-0 @Dbacks. #GenerationDbacks pic.twitter.com/Stat8tFzq4
— Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ) May 10, 2018
Rotation shifted
Braden Shipley was called up on Saturday with the expectation that he would likely start in Robbie Ray’s rotation spot, but on Tuesday, Shipley was placed on the 10-day DL with right elbow inflammation (retro to May 5).
The need for TJ McFarland in Tuesday’s extra inning win and Shipley’s trip to the DL has shuffled the rotation and moved up Zack Greinke’s start to Thursday against the Nationals. Greinke was originally going to get some extra rest, but Lovullo and his staff felt Greinke was in a good position to make the start.
Matt Koch will start on Friday, Saturday’s starter is still to be determined, Zack Godley on Sunday.
