Dodgers vs. Diamondbacks updates: Freddie Freeman homers as Dodgers hold huge lead

The Dodgers set a season high in runs and came one hit shy of matching their Los Angeles franchise record to complete a 14-1 blowout of the Diamondbacks.

This one ... was not close.

Things have gotten so out of hand in this game — which has seen the Dodgers tack on four more runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth — that relief pitcher Evan Phillips came to the plate after the Dodgers burned their designated hitter spot.

Phillips drew a walk on five pitches.

His trip to first base will be memorable — it was only the third time this season a pitcher has had a plate appearance — but it’s the Dodgers regulars who have continued to do damage.

Freddie Freeman was lifted from the game after going four for five with five RBIs, a three-run homer and two doubles.

Chris Taylor has three hits, including a two-run blast.

Mookie Betts is three for five with a walk and three runs scored.

Trea Turner, Will Smith, Edwin Ríos, Cody Bellinger and Gavin Lux all have two hits each.

Mid 8th: Dodgers lead 12-1

Dave Roberts was hoping for four innings out of starter Mitch White tonight.

Putting up four zeros was an added bonus.

White’s night came to an end after four scoreless innings in which he gave up only two hits, two walks and struck out two. He threw 61 pitches.

Justin Bruihl is the first pitcher out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.

Mid 5th: Dodgers lead 6-0

The Dodgers needed just four pitches to take the lead, and two innings to break this game open early.

After scoring two runs in the top of the first, after Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman hit back-to-back doubles and Will Smith lined an RBI single, the Dodgers piled on four more in the second.

Cody Bellinger hit a leadoff single. Chris Taylor drove him home with a double down the left-field line. Betts drew a one-out walk. Then Freeman provided the exclamation point, crushing a three-run homer to right for his first big fly in more than a month.

Mid 2nd: Dodgers lead 6-0

PHOENIX — Max Muncy wasn’t in the Dodgers lineup Thursday, and might not be again for some while.

According to manager Dave Roberts, Muncy’s left elbow has been bothering him after he banged it into a wall while trying to catch a foul ball in Washington this week.

It’s the same elbow in which Muncy sustained a torn ligament at the end of last season — injury he has struggled to bounce back from this season with a .150 batting average.

Roberts said a stint on the injured list is possible for Muncy. Kevin Pillar was added to the taxi squad in case of a move later this weekend.

Without Muncy, Justin Turner started Thursday at third base, while Edwin Ríos got his fourth straight start as designated hitter.

The Dodgers will have Mitch White on the mound for his second straight start. Roberts said the team is hoping White can get up to four innings and 60 pitches.

Here’s the Dodgers full lineup Thursday:

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks to reporters before a game against the Washington Nationals on Monday.

(Nick Wass / Associated Press)

WASHINGTON — Dave Roberts looked at the flag in the left field, flapping at half-staff. He looked at the red, white and blue stadium around him, the one situated just a mile south of the U.S. Capitol building.

Then, sitting in the visitors dugout at Nationals Park on Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers manager looked at nothing in particular, his stoic gaze accompanied by a shaken voice and anguished expression.

A day after 19 children and two teachers were killed by a gunman at a Texas elementary school, Roberts didn’t want to talk about baseball prior to his team’s series finale against the Washington Nationals.

His heart was heavy. His emotions were swirling. And he was struggling to cope with the latest gun-related tragedy to strike the country.

“Something needs to be done,” Roberts said. “Like everyone has said, enough is enough. When is enough, enough?”

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Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman hits against the Washington Nationals on Monday.

(Nick Wass / Associated Press)

What you need to know: The Dodgers conclude their 10-game trip with a four-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks beginning Thursday night in Phoenix. The series will be the third meeting between the teams this season. The Dodgers hold a 5-2 record against the Diamondbacks.

Going into Thursday’s game, the Dodgers, who won two out of three from both the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals, will send Mitch White to the mound against Arizona’s Humberto Castellanos. White, who is 1-0 and has an earned-run average of 6.17, recorded his one victory in a relief appearance earlier this season against the Diamondbacks. Castellanos is 3-1 with an ERA of 4.29.

The Dodgers were shutout Wednesday, 1-0, by the Nationals. Julio Urías (3-4) took the loss but the L.A. offense contributed to the defeat, leaving nine runners in scoring position.

The Diamondbacks, who were off Wednesday, beat the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night, 8-6, in a comeback win.

Radio: KLAC-AM (570), KTNQ-AM (1020) Spanish

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix.

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WASHINGTON — The Dodgers suffered their first shutout in 74 games Wednesday.

It wasn’t for a lack of chances late in the game.

In each of the final two innings, the Dodgers had runners on first and second with one out — a base hit away both times from erasing a one-run deficit against the Washington Nationals.

However, the team came up empty in each situation, sealing a 1-0 defeat at Nationals Park that denied them the chance of a series sweep and squandered an impressive six-inning, one-run start from left-hander Julio Urías.

On a day Mookie Betts, Will Smith and Cody Bellinger were all out of the Dodgers starting lineup — Betts and Smith both had scheduled days off, while Bellinger didn’t start for a second straight game because of an illness — all three still had important at-bats off the bench late.

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Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: