Dodgers open latest title defense with rout of D-backs
Andy Pages hit a three-run home run and right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto went six strong innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers followed consecutive World Series titles with an 8-2 victory over the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
In the season opener for both teams, Will Smith hit a home run with three RBIs as the Dodgers rallied to cap a day of celebration that included the 2024 and 2025 World Series trophies on the field before the game.
Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts also drove in runs. Yamamoto gave up two runs on five hits over six innings with no walks and six strikeouts in his encore after earning the World Series MVP last fall by winning Games 2, 6 and 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Dodgers opened in their home ballpark after they started the 2025 schedule in Japan against the Chicago Cubs and the 2024 season in South Korea against the San Diego Padres.
Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run home run among his two hits for the Diamondbacks, who are 1-4 in Opening Day games at Los Angeles. Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen gave up four runs on five hits in four-plus innings with two walks and two strikeouts.
Arizona struck first when Corbin Carroll singled to lead off the fourth inning and Perdomo hit a home run to right field against Yamamoto for a 2-0 lead.
The Dodgers unleashed their offense in the fifth by getting their first five hitters of the inning on base to chase Gallen. Pages hit a three-run home run to left-center for a 3-2 lead and Will Smith had an RBI single toward first base for a 4-2 advantage after Gallen departed.
Tucker, who signed a four-year, $240 million free-agent contract with Los Angeles in the offseason, had an RBI double in the seventh and scored on a Betts single for a 6-2 lead. One out later, Smith belted a two-run home run to left-center.
Right-handers Blake Treinen and Will Klein each pitched scoreless innings for the Dodgers and left-hander Tanner Scott added a scoreless ninth. Dodgers pitchers retired 18 of the last 19 Diamondbacks hitters following Perdomo's home run.
--Field Level Media