For the first time since 2011, the Arizona Diamondbacks have won a game in the divisional round, and they did so today with a commanding statement against the Dodgers.
Up against the Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw, Arizona wasted no time capitalizing on the momentum they gained from the Wild Card round.
Before an out was recorded, the Diamondbacks sent five runners to the plate, and all five scored.
In total, the D-backs put up six runs in the first inning, which forced Clayton Kershaw out of the game.
Inside this relentless rally, there was a three-run bomb off the bat of catcher Gabriel Moreno.
Then, in the following inning, the Diamondbacks continued to roll all over the Dodgers as they added three more runs to their lead.
By the end of the second inning, Arizona’s offensive combined for nine hits.
Remarkably, before the Dodgers even finished hitting through their lineup for the first time, Tommy Pham had already recorded three hits.
Pham went 4-5 on the night, including a solo home run in the 8th inning.
Everybody on the D-backs lineup recorded a hit besides Geraldo Perdomo, who went 0-4.
Meanwhile, on the defensive side of things, Merrill Kelly was excellent on the mound for Arizona.
While he certainly had quite the cushion, Kelly allowed a slim three hits through 6.1 innings.
It was his first postseason start, and he shut out one of the best offenses in baseball.
The Dodgers did not break through on the scoreboard until the 8th inning. With Miguel Castro pitching in relief for the Diamondbacks, Will Smith tripled down the right field line to drive in two runs.
However, these two runs proved to be unimportant as the Diamondbacks secured a 11-2 win an inning later.
Now, the two teams will get a day off before heading back to the action on Monday at 6 p.m.
The Diamondbacks will have their ace Zac Gallen on the mound with aspirations of sending his team back home with a 2-0 series lead.
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