Souza, Dodgers hand D-backs 15th straight loss
PHOENIX — The Diamondbacks stumbled to their franchise-record 15th straight loss, with Steven Souza Jr. hitting a go-ahead home run in his return to Arizona following a horrific knee injury and helping the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-0 victory Friday night.
Arizona broke the team mark of 14 straight losses from July 9-25, 2004, and lost for the 38th time in 43 games. They have the worst record in the major leagues at 20-51, and set a major-league record with their 23rd straight road loss Thursday.
“We have to find a way to get out of it,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s time to find a way.”
Souza homered in the eighth off Arizona reliever Joe Mantiply (0-2). Souza slipped on home plate and tore his left ACL while playing for the Diamondbacks in an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on March 25, 2019. Souza did not return until the 2020 regular season.
“The last time I touched home plate didn’t end well for me,” Souza said. “Being able to touch it and walk away being up 1-0 was definitely emotional.”
Trevor Bauer (7-5), in the best of his three starts since word began to spread that Major League Baseball would begin cracking down on pitchers’ use of illicit sticky stuff, pitched three-hit ball over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three, lowering his ERA to 2.45.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Bauer’s tempo was better than it had been his previous two starts.
“Just get the ball, get on the mound and keep things moving,” Bauer said. “I thought it would benefit me in my command and also help guys not stand out there for an extended period of time.”
Jimmy Nelson and Kenley Jansen each pitched an inning to finish a three-hitter, with Jansen getting his 17th save in 19 chances and finishing the Dodgers’ sixth shutout.
Arizona was blanked for the ninth time.
Dodgers center fielder Mookie Betts added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, scoring shortstop Gavin Lux, who had walked and gone to third on a pinch-hit double by Andy Burns. Arizona reliever Stefan Crichton then balked in a run.
Diamondbacks starter Caleb Smith allowed one run in six innings with four walks and five strikeouts.