LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rookie Miguel Vargas drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single in a five-run eighth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 Tuesday for their MLB-leading 44th comeback win in the first game of a doubleheader.
The Dodgers, with the best record in the majors, won their fifth in a row. Los Angeles shortstop Trea Turner exited in the fifth after being hit in the side by a ball that ricocheted off a runner’s helmet.
After stranding 12 runners though seven innings, managing just one run on seven hits, the Dodgers batted around in the eighth and rallied from a 5-1 deficit.
Austin Barnes chased Caleb Smith with a two-run homer that drew the Dodgers to 5-3. Pinch-hitter Will Smith singled with the bases loaded to make it 5-4.
Los Angeles tied the game on Trayce Thompson’s infield single to third before the 22-year-old Vargas, playing his ninth game in the big leagues, came through against Joe Mantiply with his second hit of the day.
Ryan Pepiot (3-0) got the win. Chris Martin pitched the ninth to earn his second save.
Christian Walker hit his 35th home run and Daulton Varsho also connected for Arizona, which lost for the 20th time in 21 games at Dodger Stadium.
Kevin Ginkel (1-1) took the loss.
Arizona starter Zach Davies allowed one run and five hits in three innings. He struck out three and walked two.
The D-backs took a 2-1 lead on Varsho’s homer leading off the third. They tied it 1-all on a two-out, ground-rule double by Cooper Hummel in the second.
Arizona extended its lead to 3-1 on Varsho’s RBI single in the fourth.
The D-backs made it 5-1 in the fifth. Walker homered Dodgers starter Michael Grove, and Alek Thomas singled and Josh Rojas scored on Vargas’ throwing error from left field.
Vargas’ throw to third struck Thomas’ helmet as he was going into the base and the ball ricocheted and hit Turner in the side. Turner left the game soon after.
Grove gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one.
UP NEXT
D-backs: RHP Drey Jameson (1-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his second career start in Game 2 of the doubleheader. He won his MLB debut with seven scoreless innings against San Diego last week.
Dodgers: LHP Tyler Anderson (15-3, 2.62) was activated off the paternity list after missing three games to start Game 2. He leads the team in innings pitched (161 2/3) and strikeouts (119).
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