The quest for an opening series sweep ran into some trouble early, as the Diamondbacks once again jumped out to a 2-0 lead early on. But the Dodgers clawed back a run despite their offensive struggles on the night, and all of a sudden in the 8th it was a walk and then a blast from Will Smith that turned it around for a 3-2 win and a sweep.
Scripted stuff.
Celebrating Will Smith Bobblehead Night with his girls, Cara, Charlotte and Layton. 💙 pic.twitter.com/Pia1KQotBy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 29, 2026
======
Tyler Glasnow took the ball for the Dodgers and was victimized immediately by the speed of the D-backs. Corbin Carroll legged out an infield single with one-out, got to second on a weird pinball play off Freddie Freeman to Glasnow and back to Freddie for an out.
Freddie and Glasnow with a pinball play for an out. pic.twitter.com/DXUZHnaMFx
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
Carroll then scored easily on a groundball single from Pavin Smith.
After a clean 2nd, a groundball double down the line from Jorge Barros started the 3rd, he got to third on a groundout, and then scored on a Carroll sac fly to make it 2-0 D-backs.
Glasnow then cruised over the final three innings, going scoreless thanks in part to Kyle Tucker‘s casual homer robbery.
Kyle Tucker with a (relatively routine) homer robbery. pic.twitter.com/WiFdNYii0C
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
Basically all BABIP damage, so hard to complain: 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 90 Pitches.
——
Meanwhile, the Dodgers were putting on their best Team USA impression against Eduardo Rodriguez, as they were unable to get another across against him.
A walk in the 1st was erased by a double play, a single was stranded in the 2nd, and a one-out single and walk in the 3rd gave them two cracks with RISP that led to nothing. A one-out single in the 4th similarly was wasted, and another one-out single in the 5th was erased by another double play.
Bleak.
But they got a break in the 6th when Carlos Santana bobbled a Tucker grounder for a runner that knocked Rodriguez out of the game. Eventually Tucker stole second after getting a huge jump, then he scored on a Freeman double (his third hit) with two outs to make it 2-1 D-backs.
Freddie’s third hit of the day is a double to cut the deficit in half. pic.twitter.com/zhDaJHa4pf
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
——
Meanwhile, for the pen Alex Vesia entered for the 7th had was full of energy in a 1-2-3 frame.
Vesia’s energy needs to be studied. pic.twitter.com/vpJWssQeQJ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
In the 8th, Will Klein took over and moved up the trust tree by getting a strikeout and then three weak contact results from their best got him a scoreless frame.
Klein with a strikeout then an infield single deflected off his glove, a bouncer, and infield pop against their best. Promising. pic.twitter.com/Dq35mNuPqQ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
——
On the other side, the Dodgers then went down quietly in the 7th and made two quick outs in the 8th, but a walk to Mookie Betts gave the Dodgers life. And that life was cashed in by Will crushing a 2-2 fastball to dead center for a 3-2 lead.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILL SMITH! pic.twitter.com/WTIuYcWJJy
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 29, 2026
I mean, of course he did. Of course.
That setup the trumpets and Edwin Diaz for the save in the 9th. He got three flyball outs to reduce my stress levels.
Great start.
——
Ketel Marte and Freddie with a wholesome moment.
Ketel and Freddie embrace for the final out of the inning. pic.twitter.com/etXPpQd8qS
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 29, 2026
======
Sweep.
The Dodgers already have a day off tomorrow despite still being at home, and they’ll resume the season with a three-game set against the Guardians starting at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Roki Sasaki making his season debut against Parker Messick.
