Walker, Diamondbacks dump Dodgers
LOS ANGELES -- Taijuan Walker pitched one-run ball over five innings as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Walker (2-1) gave up four hits. The right-hander walked one and struck out seven in beating the Dodgers for the first time in his second career start against Los Angeles.
Fernando Rodney handled the ninth for his fourth save.
The Diamondbacks struck first in the third inning when Chris Iannetta smacked his first home run of the season for a 1-0 lead. Los Angeles starter Rich Hill (1-1) left an 89-mph fastball elevated in the zone, and Iannetta drove the 0-2 pitch over the center field fence.
Later in the inning, Jake Lamb's four-pitch walk with the bases loaded scored Walker. Hill would face one more batter, and after striking out Yasmany Tomas, his day was done because of skin irritation on his left middle finger.
Hill, who was making his second start and his first since landing on the disabled list with blisters, lasted but three innings in losing to the Diamondbacks for the third time in four decisions. He threw 54 pitches before succumbing again to blisters, an ailment that also sidelined him last year. Hill was charged with two runs, five hits and two walks. He struck out two.
The Dodgers overlooked the left-handed Hill's blister predicament when awarding him a $48 million contract during the offseason.
Los Angeles was stymied most the game by Walker and three relievers. The Dodgers had hits in just three innings (first, fourth and eighth) and also had one baserunner in the sixth and ninth.
Yasiel Puig continue his hot start with an RBI double down the left line in the fourth, slicing the Dodgers' deficit to 2-1. Puig, who homered the night before in a three-hit game, scored Yasmani Grandal, who was on base after a one-out single.
Los Angeles had the tying run aboard in the sixth on Yasmani Grandal's two-out walk, but Joc Pederson grounded out to end the threat.
The Diamondbacks extended their cushion to 3-1 in the seventh on Paul Goldschmidt's RBI single off reliever Sergio Romo.
NOTES: Arizona played an errorless game after committing six miscues in its first five games of the road trip. ... The Diamondbacks won for just the second time in six road outings. ... Dodgers 2B Logan Forsythe (hamstring) was out of the lineup but available for pinch-hitting duties. He is expected to start on Monday. Chase Utley started at second and went 0-for-3. ... The Dodgers demoted OF Trayce Thompson to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Thompson's roster spot was taken by LHP Rich Hill, who came off the disabled list before the game.