'Diaz's Stubbornness' Roberts' 'Faith Baseball' Fails Spectacularly → Ohtani Becomes Savior in 10th! LAD Endures Hell to Secure 'Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss-Loss + Win'

*This content was translated by AI.

The LA Dodgers finally snapped their losing streak at '7' after enduring immense hardship.

On the 9th (Korean time), the Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in an extra-inning, 10th-inning showdown during an away game in the 2026 MLB regular season held at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA.

With this victory, the Dodgers finally reached the milestone of 70 wins (47 losses). They currently hold first place in the National League West division. Meanwhile, Arizona failed to maintain its upward momentum from a win against the Dodgers the previous day (8th). Arizona recorded 62 wins and 56 losses. The gap between the two teams widened from 7.5 games to 8.5 games.

For this game, the Dodgers set their starting lineup as follows: Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Andy Pages (center fielder), Freddie Freeman (first baseman), Max Muncy (third baseman), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Kyle Tucker (right fielder), Tommy Edman (second baseman), Thoutsaka Hernandez (left fielder), and Hunter Feduccia (catcher). The starting pitcher was right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

In response, Arizona set its starting lineup as follows: Geraldo Perdomo (shortstop), Corbin Carroll (right fielder), Gabriel Moreno (designated hitter), Ketel Marte (second baseman), Lars Nootbaar (left fielder), Nolan Arenado (third baseman), Tim Tawa (first baseman), James McCann (catcher), and Ryan Woldschmidt (center fielder). The starting pitcher was right-hander Brandon Pote.

With both teams' starters delivering strong performances, the game unfolded as a tight pitching duel. Neither team managed to score a single run through the 7th inning.

Yamamoto pitched 5 and 2/3 innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6 batters in a scoreless outing, but he left the mound without a decision as his team failed to provide offensive support. His total pitch count was 107. Pote also delivered an excellent performance, pitching 7 innings, allowing 2 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2 batters in a scoreless effort, effectively silencing the Dodgers' lineup. His total pitch count was 93.

The one who first broke the stubborn '0' tie was the Dodgers. Leading off, Tucker attacked the second pitch with a favorable 1-0 count and hit a solo home run over the right-field wall. The moment the Dodgers took a 1-0 lead. However, in the subsequent opportunity with one out and runners on first and second, Ohtani stepped up to the plate but ultimately bowed his head after a full-count battle lasting nine pitches, ending in a foul tip strikeout.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Dodgers brought Edwin Diaz onto the mound. Diaz had appeared on the mound the previous day when the team led 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th. However, with one out and a runner on first, he surrendered a walk-off two-run home run to Woldschmidt, bearing the burden of defeat. After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts analyzed the situation: "His fastball velocity was good. However, his slider was not effective. It seems he hasn't quite regained his feel for the slider since his return." He continued, "Of course, going through such a situation is difficult. Diaz is also working hard to resolve this issue. However, in the process of correcting these problems, especially handling late-game situations, it is challenging. Nevertheless, he has experience doing so thus far. He is not a player who runs away from trouble," expressing his trust in the pitcher.

But Diaz collapsed again today. In the bottom of the 9th, after a seven-pitch battle against leading batter Perdomo, he surrendered a three-run triple down the gap between left and center field. The nightmare from the previous day strangely resurfaced. Ultimately, he allowed a bases-clearing, go-ahead three-run triple to the following batter Carroll, who hit it into the left-field corner, tying the game at 1-1. The next batter, Moreno, was thrown out on a line drive to the third baseman. Marte was then retired on an infield fly ball, recording two outs. With Nootbaar intentionally walked on four automatic pitches, Vargas was struck out, sending the game into extra innings.

In the ensuing 10th-inning extra frame, with no outs and a runner on second base, two batters were retired before Feduccia reached base via a walk. During this sequence, a wild pitch occurred, allowing runner Tucker to advance to third base. Finally, the next batter, Ohtani, connected for his first hit of the day—a ground ball to the first baseman—scoring Tucker from third base and securing a 2-1 comeback victory.

In the following bottom of the 10th inning, Arizona had no outs with a runner on second. Leading batter Tawa was struck out, but the subsequent batter McCann reached base on an infield hit, creating a one-out opportunity with runners on first and third. However, Woldschmidt grounded into a fielder's choice at the pitcher's mound, and the Dodgers ultimately secured the win.

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*This content was translated by AI.