LOS ANGELES — Christian Walker hit a go-ahead homer in the fourth inning and a three-run blast in the ninth — his 16th and 17th career shots at Dodger Stadium — and the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a rough start to rout Los Angeles 12-4 on Wednesday night.
Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. added two-run homers for Arizona, down 4-1 before Diamondbacks starter Cristian Mena retired a batter in his major league debut.
Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández hit back-to-back homers in the first for the NL West-leading Dodgers. After four of their first five batters had hits, they had only two more the rest of the game. Arizona pounded out 16 hits.
Walker went 4 for 5, falling a triple shy of the cycle, with four RBIs and three runs. With two out in the fourth, he sent a 3-2 pitch from Ryan Yarbrough (3-2) to left for a 5-4 lead. Walker hit his 20th homer of the season in the ninth, a two-out shot off Michael Petersen.
Bryce Jarvis (1-2) got the victory in relief.
Arizona got most of its offense from the bottom of the lineup. Eugenio Suárez, Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo combined for seven hits, including Moreno’s homer in the third.
The Dodgers’ only hits after the first were a double by Miguel Rojas in the sixth and Freeman’s single in the eighth.
Mena allowed a single, walk, back-to-back homers and a single to the first five Dodgers. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out two and walked three in three innings.
Dodgers rookie Gavin Stone gave up four runs and seven hits in three innings, needing 49 pitches over the first two innings. He struck out three and walked three.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) was set to throw a bullpen Thursday.
UP NEXT
D-backs RHP Zac Gallen (6-4, 2.83 ERA) was scheduled to make his second start since coming off the IL in the series finale Thursday against Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (1-1, 2.08).
In a surprising turn of events, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Taijuan Walker showcased his impressive hitting skills once again by hitting two home runs against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Walker, who is known for his prowess on the mound, has been making quite a name for himself with his unexpected power at the plate.
The first home run came in the second inning off Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, a two-run shot that gave the Diamondbacks an early lead. Walker’s second home run came in the fifth inning, a solo shot that further extended Arizona’s lead over their division rivals.
Walker’s performance at the plate has been nothing short of remarkable, especially for a pitcher. His ability to not only hold his own on the mound but also contribute offensively has been a huge asset for the Diamondbacks this season.
This is not the first time Walker has shown off his hitting skills against the Dodgers. In a previous game earlier in the season, he hit a home run off Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, further solidifying his reputation as a pitcher who can do it all.
Walker’s success at the plate against one of the top teams in the league is a testament to his hard work and dedication to improving all aspects of his game. His two home runs against the Dodgers are sure to be talked about for weeks to come and have undoubtedly earned him even more respect from fans and players alike.
As the Diamondbacks continue their push for a playoff spot, Walker’s unexpected power at the plate will be a valuable weapon in their arsenal. Whether he’s on the mound or in the batter’s box, Taijuan Walker has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in Major League Baseball.