BASEBALL: Shohei Ohtani plays key role in Dodgers' win over D-backs

Ohtani, Freeman Power Dodgers Past Diamondbacks in 6-5 Thriller

PHOENIX — Shohei Ohtani doubled, tripled, drove in two runs, and scored twice, while Freddie Freeman launched a crucial two-run homer as the Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Arizona Diamondbacks for a 6-5 victory at Chase Field on Tuesday.

Freeman spearheaded the Dodgers' offense with a three-hit night. Dalton Rushing chipped in with two hits and two runs for Los Angeles, which jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead after two innings and held a 6-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Ohtani's Historic Streak Continues

With his stellar performance, Ohtani has now reached base in 18 consecutive games. During this blazing stretch, he is batting .420 (29-for-69) with seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, 17 RBIs, and 10 multi-hit performances.

Ohtani’s comfort level in Phoenix is undeniable; in 20 career games at Chase Field, he is hitting .351 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs, and 15 RBIs.

Bullpen Navigates Late-Inning Jam

The Diamondbacks mounted a furious comeback in the seventh inning against Dodgers reliever Kyle Hurt. Corbin Carroll sparked the rally with a solo home run, and Nolan Arenado later delivered a clutch, two-run double to trim Arizona's deficit to 6-5.

Los Angeles reliever Will Klein entered the jam and managed to get Tommy Troy to ground out with the bases loaded to end the seventh, preserving the one-run lead. In the eighth, after Carroll and Gabriel Moreno singled with one out, Klein induced a crucial inning-ending double play from Arenado to escape another threat.

Tanner Scott then slammed the door in the ninth, pitching around a one-out single by Ildemaro Vargas to secure his sixth save in seven chances.

How They Scored

The Dodgers wasted no time attacking Arizona starter Michael Soroka (7-3). In the first inning, Ohtani doubled and quickly scored on Freeman’s two-run blast. Ohtani was back at it in the second, driving home two more runs with a triple to extend the lead to 4-0.

Soroka settled down after the rocky start, ultimately allowing four runs on six hits across six innings, striking out six and walking one. It marked just the third time in 12 starts this season that Soroka has yielded more than two runs.

Arizona began chipping away in the third when Carroll homered. In the fifth, back-to-back singles by Jorge Barrosa and Troy set up a Ketel Marte sacrifice fly, cutting the Los Angeles lead to 4-2.

Pitching Lines and Notes

Eric Lauer (LA Starter): Surrendered two runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out one, walked one, and exited after fanning Carroll with a runner on second in the fifth.

Blake Treinen (2-1, Win): Entered in relief of Lauer, issued a walk, but got Arenado to fly out to escape the fifth-inning jam and keep the score 4-2.

The Insurance Runs: Andy Pages and Mookie Betts each drove in a run in the top of the seventh, providing what proved to be the decisive margin at 6-2.

With the victory, the red-hot Dodgers have now won 15 of their last 19 games. Conversely, the Diamondbacks continue to skid, having dropped four of their last five contests.

—Field Level Media/Reuters