LOS ANGELES — During the series in San Francisco last weekend, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he did not expect his team to lower its standard of play despite having clinched a division title so early. And, if there are signs of that happening, “then come talk to me,” he said.
Let’s talk.
The Dodgers made a season-high four errors, leading to three unearned runs in a 5-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the night shift of their split doubleheader on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to win the early game, 6-5 – despite making two errors in that game as well.
There were no big game-saving rallies in the nightcap. The Dodgers outhit the Diamondbacks 8-5 but only Max Muncy’s two-run homer in the sixth inning registered on the scoreboard.
The first crack in their defense came in the second inning when shortstop Trea Turner ranged into the hole to collect Sergio Alcantara’s two-out ground ball with two runners on. Turner tried to throw back to second base for a forceout but his throw was off the mark and bounced through second baseman Gavin Lux, allowing a run to score.
The big breakdown came in the sixth inning, though.
Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson hit two batters and dropped a short toss from Freddie Freeman on a play at first base, loading the bases with no outs. He struck out Emmanuel Rivera and got Carson Kelly to loft a fly ball to right field.
Mookie Betts conceded the run on the sacrifice fly. But his throw to try and head off another runner at third base was wild and got past Muncy. Anderson collected the errant throw near the Dodgers’ dugout and tried to cut off another run with a throw home. That throw was in the dirt.
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When the calliope music died down, the Diamondbacks had scored two runs on the play.
Muncy’s homer in the bottom of the sixth brought the Dodgers back within a run. But Ketel Marte opened it up again with a solo homer off Dodgers reliever Phil Bickford in the seventh and an RBI triple by Corbin Carroll in the ninth.
More to come on this story.