Walker hits 16th and 17th career home runs at Dodger Stadium as D-backs beat Los Angeles 12-4

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Christian Walker hit a game-winning home run in the fourth inning and three runs scored in the ninth — his 16th and 17th career homers at Dodger Stadium — and the Arizona Diamondbacks overcame a rough start to beat Los Angeles 12-4 on Wednesday night.

Gabriel Moreno and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. each hit a pair of home runs for Arizona in a 4-1 loss before Diamondbacks starter Cristian Mena struck out one batter in his MLB debut.

“A really brave performance,” Walker said.

The D-backs suffered a loss in their series opener on Tuesday.

“This team didn’t let itself get lost,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We started to come back.”

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Christian Walker (right) hits a three-run home run as Los Angeles Dodgers reliever pitcher Michael Petersen (left) watches with catcher Will Smith and home plate umpire Jordan Baker during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)(Mark J. Terrill | AP)

Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernández hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for the NL West leaders Dodgers. After four of their first five batters had hits, they had just two more the rest of the game. Arizona struck out 16.

Walker went 4-for-5, missing a triple for the cycle, with four RBIs and three runs. With two outs in the fourth, he sent a 3-2 pitch from Ryan Yarbrough (3-2) to left for a 5-4 lead. Walker hit his 20th home run of the season in the ninth inning, a two-out shot from Michael Petersen.

“He’s out of this world,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Walker. “He doesn’t give anything away. He’s one of those guys I really enjoy watching play.”

Walker has seven homeruns in eight games against the Dodgers this season, and his 17 career homeruns at Dodger Stadium dating back to 2018 are the most by any opposing player. He has homeruns in four consecutive games in Los Angeles.

“It’s a good spot to hit, you can see the ball well,” Walker said. “A big part of it is the lineup and the protection around me in the lineup, it gives me the freedom to take some big swings and try to change the outcome. It helps that a lot of guys are on the right track.”

The victory was won by Bryce Jarvis (1-2) coming off the bench.

Arizona received most of its offense from the bottom of the lineup. Eugenio Suarez, Moreno and Geraldo Perdomo combined for seven hits, including Moreno’s home run in the third inning.

The Dodgers’ only hits after the first inning were a double by Miguel Rojas in the sixth inning and a single by Freeman in the eighth inning.

Mena allowed a single, a walk, back-to-back homeruns and a single to the first five Dodgers. The 21-year-old right-hander struck out two and walked three in three innings.

“I still have a lot to learn, but that’s important for me — just forget about what just happened and focus on the next round,” Mena said.

Dodgers rookie Gavin Stone gave up four runs and seven hits in three innings, needing 49 pitches over the first two innings. He struck out three and walked three.