Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, tags the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman for an out at home plate during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll leads off first base during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone reacts after giving up a run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Gavin Stone, left, talks with catcher Will Smith after giving up a run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a single during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Cristian Mena throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Corbin Carroll watches as a ball hit by the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman goes over the fence for a three-run home run during the first inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, celebrates with teammates Will Smith, left, and Shohei Ohtani after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is showered with sunflower seeds as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, celebrates with teammate Shohei Ohtani after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman is showered with sunflower seeds as he returns to the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, center, celebrates in the dugout after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez is showered with sunflower seeds as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno runs the bases after hitting a game-tying, two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno, center, is greeted by Manager Torey Lovullo, left, as he returns to the dugout after hitting a game-tying two-run home run during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, center, talks to starting pitcher Gavin Stone, left, and catcher Will Smith after Stone gave up a game-tying two-run home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (not pictured) during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, left, prepares to tag the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman for an out at home plate during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno, center, shows the umpire he held on to the ball after he tagged the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman, right, for an out at home plate during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker hits a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker watches the flight of his solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker follows through after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani walks back to the dugout after lining out during the fourth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez chases after a ball that was hit for a double by the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers relief pitcher Yohan Ramirez reacts after giving up a two-run home run to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (not pictured) during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former Dodgers relief pitcher Eric Gagne, left, talks to first baseman Freddie Freeman after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Former Dodgers relief pitcher Eric Gagne, left, poses for a picture with first baseman Freddie Freeman after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. It was the 20th anniversary of Gagne’s 84th consecutive save, a streak that remains an MLB record. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers starting pitcher Bobby Miller is seen before a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Dodgers fans look on from center field before the team’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — On a day when Shohei Ohtani was named a starter on the National League All-Star team, the Dodgers had to wonder why the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker was not included in the group.
From the Dodgers’ perspective, Walker is about as good as major league players get and his two home runs, along with four hits on Wednesday night, were prime examples as the Diamondbacks rallied for a 12-4 victory.
Walker now has seven home runs in eight games against the Dodgers this season and five in five games at Dodger Stadium as Arizona overcame a three-run deficit in the first inning.
“Yeah, the numbers, it’s like better than Shohei at Dodger Stadium,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Walker, who now has 17 home runs in 41 career games at Chavez Ravine. “I think it’s a division rival and I do think we bring out the best in him. He plays really well at home against us, but at this ballpark it’s otherworldly. He doesn’t give anything away. I’ve said, he’s one of the guys who I really enjoy watching play.”
Expected to have the advantage on Wednesday, Dodgers rookie Gavin Stone could not leverage his recent run of success in a matchup with Diamondbacks right-hander Cristian Mena, who was making his major league debut.
Both starters gave up four runs in three innings, with Stone’s outing coming after he went 4-0 with a 1.97 ERA in five June starts and had a 1.62 ERA over his last six outings.
“My arm felt good but just the command wasn’t there completely,” said Stone, who threw a complete-game five-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox last week. “You just have to forget about it.”
Mena was in trouble from the outset as each of the Dodgers’ first five hitters reached base. Shohei Ohtani singled, Will Smith walked and Freddie Freeman hit a three-run home run, his 13th. Teoscar Hernandez followed with a home run of his own, his 19th.
It was the sixth time this season the Dodgers hit back-to-back home runs and Freeman has been involved each time it happened.
“First inning, first big league start, I’m sure he had a lot of nerves out there, a lot of excitement,” Freeman said of Mena. “He was just falling behind hitters in the first inning and we were able to jump on him. He settled down a little bit and got through a couple more innings, but their bullpen, we just didn’t have anything for it the rest of the game.”
But Stone’s 4-1 lead was short-lived. The Diamondbacks received a two-out RBI double from Eugenio Suarez in the third inning and Gabriel Moreno followed with a home run, his fourth, to tie the score at 4-4.
In the Dodgers’ half of the third, a Mena balk had Dodgers runners on first and third with one out. And with the Arizona 21-year-old on the ropes again, Miguel Rojas lined out to right field and Freeman was thrown out at home by Jake McCarthy while trying to tag up and score on the play.
“They went to the ’pen and got multiple (innings) from different guys,” Roberts said. “We just didn’t have an answer. They kept adding on, to their credit. We just didn’t threaten. … I just think that they didn’t walk guys and we just really couldn’t mount anything tonight.”
Walker seized on the momentum with a two-out home run to left field in the fourth inning on a full-count pitch from left-hander Ryan Yarbrough (3-2).
Arizona rolled from there, getting a Geraldo Perdomo bunt for a run in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead, while Walker doubled in the sixth and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed with a two-run home run for an 8-4 lead. It was Gurriel’s 12th on the season.
Suarez delivered a second RBI double in the eighth inning.
Walker was at it again in the ninth with a three-run home run off right-hander Michael Peterson, his 20th on the season. Walker, who went 4 for 5 with four RBIs and three runs scored, fell a triple shy of the cycle. He now has 25 career home runs against the Dodgers in 10 seasons, his most against any one team and one more than he has against the Colorado Rockies.
“You’re trying to navigate (Ketel) Marte and Joc (Pederson) and you got that guy always looming,” Roberts said of Walker. “He seems to always come up with guys on base.”
The Dodgers’ only hits after the first were a double by Rojas in the sixth and Freeman’s single in the eighth.
Marte, the Diamondbacks’ second baseman, was named an NL starter in the All-Star Game and went 1 for 4 with two walks and a run scored. Ohtani went 1 for 4 with a run scored after he was named the NL’s starting designated hitter.
