Dodgers Shake Off Rust in Opener Against Diamondbacks

It took the Dodgers about four innings to get into their rhythm.

And after some initial struggles, they started to look more like themselves.

The team kicked off the season with an 8-2 victory in their opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. With a powerful lineup and solid performances from their starting pitchers, they set a strong tone for the season in front of 53,712 fans at Dodger Stadium.

This was exactly the kind of start they hoped for as they seek a third consecutive win.

Things started off rocky when Gerardo Perdomo hit a two-run homer in the fourth, putting the Dodgers down early. However, their offense struck back, despite a slow start in the fifth inning where they hadn’t managed a hit since a single by Shohei Ohtani.

Then, the floodgates opened, and they scored four runs in the fifth, including a three-run bomb from Andy Pages off Arizona’s Zac Gallen.

In the seventh, Kyle Tucker hit a double that brought in an RBI, followed by Mookie Betts with another double, and Will Smith capped it off with a two-run hit to left-center.

This surge was backed by a strong performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched six solid innings, striking out six and retiring the last nine batters after Perdomo’s homer.

After just one game, it seems to reaffirm their belief that this might be the best team they’ve ever fielded.

“This team is incredible in terms of talent and commitment,” manager Dave Roberts mentioned before the game. “But, of course, we still need to perform on the field.”

And, well, they seemed to do just that.

What It Means

With a roster boasting six MVP awards and 33 All-Star appearances, the Dodgers have a deep team without a singular superstar needing to bear the load.

Thursday’s game served as a quick reminder of this depth.

The pivotal moment came from the lower part of the lineup, where Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez led off the fifth with back-to-back singles, paving the way for Pages’ pivotal homer.

Even Ohtani, who didn’t get any other hits after his initial single, played a key role with an important RBI off Tucker’s double.

By the end, Crabbe had more walks than strikeouts, putting continuous pressure on Arizona’s pitchers, who eventually faltered under the heat.

Who Is Hot

Pages was seen as a potential breakout star this season, with Roberts expressing confidence in his ability over previous struggles. He didn’t disappoint, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

His crucial homer came from a well-placed breaking ball, and he complemented that with two notable catches in center field. Blake Treinen, who pitched in relief, also kept Arizona scoreless in his inning.

Who Is Not

No player really stood out as struggling. Freddie Freeman was the sole player without a hit, but even he played a role by drawing a significant walk that helped set up Smith’s RBI. He also made a strong defensive play, ending an inning with a double play.

On to the Next

The Dodgers will face the Diamondbacks again on Friday, with Emmett Sheehan starting for the Dodgers and Ryne Nelson for Arizona.