AP

D-backs lose record 15th straight, Souza homers in return

Jun 18, 2021, 10:24 AM | Updated: Jun 19, 2021, 12:23 am

Phoenix (AP) — The Diamondbacks stumbled to their franchise-record 15th straight loss, with Steven Souza Jr. hitting a go-ahead home run in his return to Arizona following a horrific knee injury and helping the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-0 victory on Friday night.

Arizona broke the team mark of 14 straight losses from July 9-25, 2004, and lost for the 38th time in 43 games. The Diamondbacks have the worst record in the major leagues at 20-51.

Souza homered in the eighth off Joe Mantiply (0-2). Souza slipped on home plate and tore his left ACL while playing for the Diamondbacks in an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox on March 25, 2019. Souza did not return until the 2020 regular season.

Trevor Bauer (7-5), in the best of his three starts since Major League Baseball let it be known it would crack down on the use of sticky substances that aid pitchers’ grips, pitched three-hit ball over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three, lowering his ERA to 2.45.

Jimmy Nelson and Kenley Jansen each pitched an inning to finish a three-hitter, with Jansen getting his 17th save in 19 chances and finishing the Dodgers’ sixth shutout,

Arizona was blanked for the ninth time.

Dodgers center fielder Mookie Betts added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, scoring shortstop Gavin Lux, who had walked and gone to third on a pinch-hit double by Andy Burns. Arizona reliever Stefan Crichton then balked in a run.

Bauer escaped bases-loaded in the fourth when Carson Kelly hit an inning-ending flyout. Eduardo Escobar hit an inning-ending popout that stranded two runners in the fifth, starting a string in which the Diamondbacks’ last 13 batters were retired in order.

Diamondbacks starter Caleb Smith allowed one run in six innings with four walks and five strikeouts.

ROSTER MOVE

Diamondbacks: Arizona designated P Keury Mella for assignment and selected the contract of reliever Noé Ramirez from Triple-A Reno. Mella had a 32.40 ERA in two appearances with the Diamondbacks. Ramirez had an 8.00 ERA in eight appearances at Reno.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: OF Cody Bellinger (hamstring) ran the bases Wednesday and manager Dave Roberts said, “he responded really well.” Roberts said Bellinger should be activated off the injured list for the series against San Diego beginning Monday. … 1B Max Muncy (oblique) will not need a rehabilitation assignment and could be ready for the second or third game of the Padres series … SS Corey Seager (hand) could start a rehab assignment next week. … Roberts said he hopes LHP Scott Alexander (shoulder inflammation) will be ready to rejoin the Dodgers by early July

Diamondbacks: LHP Madison Bumgarner (shoulder) threw off flat ground Friday and is scheduled to pitch a bullpen session Tuesday. … RHP Taylor Widener (groin) threw a 31-pitch bullpen Friday. … RHP Tyler Clippard (knee) threw 15 pitches off flat ground and 10 off a mound . … OF Kole Calhoun took batting practice.

UP NEXT

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Walker Buehler is 6-0 with a 2.38 ERA in 13 starts this season going into his outing at the Arizona Diamondbacks and Brad Peacock (2-4, 5.26). Buehler is 2-0 with a 2.47 ERA in nine starts against Arizona, including seven scoreless innings during a May 17 win at Dodger Stadium in which the only hit he allowed a one-out single in the first to Josh Rojas.

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