Diamondbacks beat Dodgers 4-3 on Waldschmidt walk-off homer

Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a two-run, walk-off home run with one out in the ninth inning on Friday night, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Phoenix. The dramatic swing sent the Dodgers to their seventh consecutive loss, a season-worst skid that has tightened the race in the National League West.

Waldschmidt connected on a slider from Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz, driving the ball to left-center field to score pinch-runner Jorge Barrosa, who had stolen second base. The homer was the second of the rookie’s career and his first to end a game. Díaz, a three-time All-Star, had walked Max Kepler to open the inning before recording a strikeout.

The Dodgers had staged a late rally to take the lead. Trailing 2-0 early, they tied the game in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Tommy Edman. Andy Page then gave Los Angeles a 3-2 advantage with a solo home run to lead off the eighth inning. Arizona threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with two outs, but Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott struck out Nolan Arenado on the 12th pitch of the at-bat to escape the jam.

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly dominated early, taking a...