Will Smith hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning as the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers posted a three-game, season-opening sweep with a 3-2 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.
Freddie Freeman had three hits, including an RBI double, starter Tyler Glasnow went six strong innings and new Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz picked up his second save in two nights.
Smith’s second home run of the season came one batter after Mookie Betts worked a two-out walk in the eighth against Juan Morillo (0-1). Smith lined a 2-2 fastball over the wall in center for the lead on a night when all fans in attendance received a bobblehead representing his go-ahead home run in the 11th inning of Game 7 in last season’s World Series.
Corbin Carroll had a hit, an RBI and a run scored and Venezuela’s World Baseball Classic hero Eduardo Rodriguez gave up an unearned run over five-plus innings in a no-decision for the Diamondbacks. Rodriguez held Team USA scoreless over 4 1/3 innings in Venezuela’s WBC title-game victory earlier this month.
For the third consecutive game, the Diamondbacks took an early 2-0 lead. Carroll beat out an infield single in the first inning, on a play that was overruled to a hit on replay. Carroll went to second on a Geraldo Perdomo groundout and scored on a single by Pavin Smith.
Arizona added a second run in the third when Jorge Barrosa doubled, went to third on a Ketel Marte groundout and scored on a Carroll sacrifice fly.
The Diamondbacks also led 2-0 in the season opener against the Dodgers on Thursday and 2-0 in the third inning of Friday’s game.
Rodriguez was removed by Arizona manager Torey Lovullo after Kyle Tucker reached base on an error by first baseman Carlos Santana to lead off the sixth. Tucker stole second base with one out and scored on a two-out Freeman double against right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga.
Alex Vesia pitched a scoreless seventh for the Dodgers before Will Klein (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth. Diaz entered in the ninth to his regular greeting of trumpets and ended the game on a perfect ninth inning.
