Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks: Dodgers win 5-3 to complete four-game series sweep

Behind four innings of one-run ball from their bullpen, the Dodgers closed out a 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete a four-game series sweep.

Even though the Dodgers didn’t add anything at the plate over the final four innings, getting a scoreless frame from Justin Bruihl, 1 1/3 perfect innings from David Price in his return from the COVID IL, and a ninth-inning save from Daniel Hudson with closer Craig Kimbrel down Wednesday following outings on Monday and Tuesday.

The Dodgers have now won five straight games as they open a 10-game road trip.

Final: Dodgers 5, D-backs 3

Walker Buehler avoided major damage, but again struggled to work very deep in his start Wednesday.

The right-hander gave up two runs in five innings, surrendering six hits and two walks while striking out four batters.

Buehler escaped his biggest jam of the day, tip-toeing out of danger after the Diamondbacks loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth.

With his pitch count at 91 after that frame, however, manager Dave Roberts didn’t let Buehler go any further.

His season ERA is now 2.89.

End 5th: Dodgers lead 5-2

After the Diamondbacks took the lead in the third inning on another RBI groundout, the Dodgers surged back in front in the fourth thanks to their longest-tenured hitter.

With two on and one out, Justin Turner jumped on a full-count changeup over the middle of the plate from Diamondbacks starter Zach Davies, launching a three-run home to left.

It was Turner’s fourth home run of the season, and gives him a team-high 28 RBIs (15 of which he’s recorded in the past 13 games).

He’s now tied for seventh in the majors in RBIs.

Later in the inning, Gavin Lux tacked on another run with an RBI single to center.

End 4th: Dodgers lead 5-2

For the first time in nine games, the Dodgers scored first Wednesday, after Mookie Betts hit a leadoff double and scored on Freddie Freeman’s RBI single.

Their advantage, however, didn’t last long.

In the top of the second, the Diamondbacks leveled the score thanks to back-to-back hits from Josh Rojas and David Peralta and an RBI groundout by Geraldo Perdomo.

End 2nd: Tied 1-1

Clayton Kershaw was not able to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, as manager Dave Roberts predicted a day earlier, as the pitcher continues to battle back pain resulting from SI joint inflammation.

Roberts said Kershaw, who was placed on the injured list last Friday after having an epidural shot, will continue to throw off flat ground but wasn’t sure when he might be ready to throw off a mound.

“Just where he’s at right now, we don’t feel it makes sense,” Roberts said. “I don’t know when the next go at this will be, but I don’t see it in the next few days.”

Roberts confirmed the news meant Kershaw won’t be able to return to action as soon as his 15-day IL stint is over next week. His timeline to return remains unclear.

“The initial was to have him play catch and be ready to throw a ‘pen today,” Roberts said. “We’re just not there yet.”

Heaney progressing from shoulder injury

After throwing his first bullpen session Tuesday since suffering a shoulder injury last month, left-hander Andrew Heaney said he was feeling good and hopeful he could rejoin the team in a matter of weeks.

“It was just 15 pitches, nice and easy,” Heaney said. “Everything felt good. Felt good this morning. Just kind of tick another box.”

Heaney said his next steps will include a couple more bullpen sessions, simulated games and then a minor-league rehab stint.

“It’s just building strength back,” Heaney said. “Obviously took off a couple weeks from throwing, so then you’re building strength in the training room, in the weight room, gradually taking that to throwing and building it up.”

The Dodgers will try to complete a four-game sweep against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon, and they’ll have right-hander Walker Buehler on the mound.

Buehler enters the game with a 4-1 record and 2.81 ERA in seven starts this year. The last time he faced the Diamondbacks last month, he threw his first career complete-game shutout. Buehler is also coming off his worst start of the season, though, after he gave up five runs in five innings against the Philadelphia Phillies last week.

Manager Dave Roberts cited Buehler’s pitch usage as a key for Wednesday, noting that the pitcher has been better this season when not overly-relying on his fastball.

“When he decides to pitch and not throw, I think he’s better,” Roberts said. “And I think that I say that because he’s got a really good fastball. But I just think that he has a lot of good weapons to get guys out. When he’s using his entire pitch mix, I think he’s a better pitcher.”

Here’s the rest of the Dodgers lineup Wednesday:

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Mookie Betts flashed the Dodgers’ new “switch it up” hand sign — his right thumb and pinky extended from his fist — toward the dugout in excitement.

He met third base coach Dino Ebel with a smooth low-five. He finished his trot around the bases with a passionate two-handed exchange with Hanser Alberto at home plate.

In the Dodgers’ 7-6 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday afternoon, Betts had just lifted a two-run home run to left field, the first of three long balls the Dodgers hit during a go-ahead, five-run rally in the sixth inning.

As he has done much more during his resurgent start to this season, Betts completed each step of the ensuing celebration with a wide, stress-free smile on his face.

“Mookie is his best,” manager Dave Roberts said, “when he’s making work fun.”

The former MVP certainly did that Tuesday, helping the Dodgers sweep a doubleheader from the Diamondbacks.

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