Christian Walker had a remarkable performance at Dodger Stadium, hitting two home runs in the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This marked his 18th and 19th home runs in just 42 career games at the ballpark. The Arizona Diamondbacks secured a 9-3 victory over the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Walker expressed his astonishment at his performance, stating that he was speechless. The Dodgers, who are now 4-5 against the D-backs this season, will not face them again in Los Angeles until possibly the postseason. Last year, Arizona surprised the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs.
In the first inning, Joc Pederson, playing against his former team, received boos from the crowd as he hit a home run. Shortly after, Walker hit a massive 435-foot shot to center field. In the third inning, with two strikes, Walker hit another two-run shot to extend Arizona’s lead to 4-0. This marked his fifth consecutive game hitting a home run at Dodger Stadium and his ninth home run against Dodgers pitching this season.
Walker, who hails from the same hometown as late Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, expressed his pride in his performance. He credited his teammates and hitting coaches for his success. He also received his first intentional walk of the series in the fifth inning and drew a walk in the ninth inning to load the bases.
The D-backs’ victory was supported by strong relief pitching from Justin Martinez, who earned the win. The team scored 14 consecutive runs between the previous game and this one, showcasing their offensive prowess.
Despite the Dodgers’ efforts to cut the deficit, they fell short as their lead in the NL West decreased to 6½ games over San Diego. Key players like Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman struggled, striking out multiple times in the game.
In the ninth inning, the D-backs added four more runs to secure their victory. Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suárez was ejected in the eighth inning after a dispute with the home plate umpire.
Overall, the Diamondbacks delivered a strong performance against the Dodgers, showcasing their offensive power and securing a significant win. Walker’s exceptional performance at Dodger Stadium further solidified his reputation as a formidable hitter in the league.