May throws 6 spectacular innings, Dodgers beat D-backs 5-2

PHOENIX — Injuries have slowed the profession trajectory of one-time phenom Dustin May.

But with each blazing fastball the lanky redhead throws as of late, it’s clear the expertise continues to be there.

May threw six dominant innings, Freddie Freeman hit a solo homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers gained 5-2 within the house opener for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday evening.

“Dustin was really good,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “He came out really chuckin’ it. There was some triple digits, the command was good.”

May (1-0) gave up one run on simply two hits, hanging out 5 and strolling two.

The 25-year-old – whose fastball often hits 100 mph – threw seven scoreless innings in opposition to the D-backs final week within the season’s opening collection. The former prime prospect had Tommy John surgical procedure in 2021, which briefly derailed his profession, however appears like he could possibly be one among L.A.’s finest pitchers this season.

PHOTOS: May throws 6 spectacular innings, Dodgers beat D-backs 5-2

May mentioned he’s not chasing anybody else’s expectations as a result of he units a excessive bar for himself.

“I really don’t care what people think,” May mentioned. “I’m going to go out, do what I’m going to do, and it’s going to be good, or it’s going to be bad. It has nothing to do with what people think about me.”

The Dodgers jumped on prime 1-0 within the second on Chris Taylor’s two-out single that introduced house Max Muncy, who led off the inning with a stroll.

Los Angeles pushed forward 3-0 within the third. Freeman, who received on base with a one-out double, scored after a throwing error by D-backs shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. J.D. Martinez added an RBI single.

Evan Phillips threw the ninth for his second save.

It was one other robust outing in opposition to the Dodgers for D-backs righty Merrill Kelly (0-1), who gave up 4 runs over 5 2/3 innings, strolling 4 and hanging out 4. He fell to 0-10 in opposition to the division rival and has a 5.70 ERA in opposition to them in 14 profession begins.

D-backs third baseman Josh Rojas ripped an RBI double within the sixth that lower the Dodgers’ margin to 4-1 however Freeman responded within the seventh together with his solo blast, which was his first homer of the season.

The Dodgers scored all 5 runs with two outs.

“I think we’re just a bunch of grinders,” Freeman mentioned. “Guys who just grind out at-bats. We don’t take pitches off.”

Rojas simply missed a game-tying, three-run homer within the seventh. The ball was deep sufficient, however drifted barely to the precise of the right-field foul pole.

D-backs proper fielder Jake McCarthy had two hits, together with a triple. Arizona got here into the sport with a .224 batting common over the primary week and had simply 5 hits on Thursday.

“We’ve got to find a way to win these types of games and beat these types of pitchers,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo mentioned. “I consider in our hitters sufficient that we are able to go on the market and execute in opposition to anyone. We’ve received to consider that, deep in our coronary heart.

“I thought we had some opportunities, but we played catch-up from the very beginning.”

FULL HOUSE

The D-backs hosted 48,034 followers, which was the primary sellout at Chase Field since 2019.

EMOTIONAL MOMENT

Phoenix police officer Tyler Moldovan threw out the ceremonial first pitch to an enormous ovation.

Moldovan was shot a number of occasions whereas responding to reviews of autos driving erratically on Sept. 14, 2021. He spent a month on life help and greater than six months within the hospital earlier than coming house in June 2022.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: LHP Madison Bumgarner expects to make his subsequent begin on Friday in opposition to the Dodgers. The veteran had a tough first outing in Los Angeles and went again to Phoenix early to verify for a possible damage.

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