Dodgers top D-backs for 4-game sweep
LOS ANGELES – Walker Buehler tossed his first career shutout against the Arizona Diamondbacks last month. He wasn’t nearly as sharp facing them again.
Still, Buehler and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 5-3 victory on Wednesday to complete a four-game sweep.
“Not a great outing,” Buehler said after allowing two runs and six hits in five innings. “It’s my eighth start, I probably should be in game shape by now, but I’ve struggled. It’s tough to not go and perform the way you think you ought to.”
Justin Turner picked up the Dodgers with a three-run homer in the fourth inning, helping them win their fifth straight overall. Los Angeles finished off a 5-3 homestand that included eight games in seven days and four within 42 hours.
“It’s tough, but no one complained,” manager Dave Roberts said.
Like Buehler, Turner is still finding his way. He’s batting just .203, but is hitting .361 with runners in scoring position and leads the team with 28 RBIs.
“It certainly helps to have all these guys in front of you,” Turner said, referring to Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner, among others. “It’s a lot more fun to go up and hit.”
David Price came off the COVID-19 list and made a key contribution in relief as Los Angeles sent Arizona to its fifth loss in a row.
Turner sent a 3-2 pitch from Zach Davies (2-2) into the lower left-field pavilion in his 1,300th major league game, putting the Dodgers back in front 4-2 in the fourth inning. Turner was a non-roster invitee to spring training in 2014 and three years later was MVP of the NL Championship Series.
“It’s kind of in and out,” Turner said of his hitting. “I feel pretty consistent since the last road trip.”
Gavin Lux added a twoout RBI single in the fourth that made it 5-2.
Buehler (5-1) got into immediate trouble in the fifth when Arizona loaded the bases on consecutive singles by Alek Thomas, Jake Hager and Daulton Varsho. But Buehler got swinging strikeouts of Jordan Luplow and Pavin Smith before Christian Smith hit a grounder to Turner, who stepped on third base to end the threat.