Freeman's grand slam, Yamamoto's solid start power Dodgers to 6-4 victory over Diamondbacks

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman's grand slam keyed a six-run third inning, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a strong start and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four with a 6-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Freeman’s blast off Slade Cecconi (1-4) was part of an onslaught where the first six Dodgers got aboard and scored in the third.

Kiké Hernández and Will Smith also went deep in the inning as Los Angeles improved to 33-17. It is the ninth time in franchise history the Dodgers have at least 33 wins after 50 games.

Yamamoto (5-1) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings. He threw a season-high 100 pitches, including 69 strikes.

It was the 18th time in 27 games a Dodgers' starter has gone at least six innings.

Daniel Hudson retired the side in the ninth for his third save in five opportunities.

“Offensively we are doing enough to score some runs to win,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think that there’s room to continue to get better consistency up and down the lineup. But the pitching has been what has been the impetus for this hot streak.”

Arizona's Ketel Marte extended his hitting streak to 19 games. It is the longest run in the majors this season and tied for fifth-longest in franchise history.

Kyle Newman added three hits, his fifth multi-hit effort in the last nine games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Jake McCarthy had back-to-back homers in the eighth, but the Diamondbacks have dropped four of six.

“I was very pleased with our approach. We built innings and had baserunners. We couldn’t get the big hit at the right time,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Freeman's grand slam was the sixth of his career and his third since the start of last season. He is one of seven players with three over the past two seasons.

The Dodgers are the only team in the majors with two players with at least three grand slams since the start of 2023. Max Muncy leads the team with four.

“I’m not looking for the grand slam, but just trying to keep the line moving and get a base hit there. Ultimately, I was able to get it out," Freeman said.

It didn't take the Dodgers long to respond after the Diamondbacks opened the scoring on Joc Pederson's RBI base hit to center.

Hernández led off the inning with a drive to center to tie it at 1-all. Miguel Rojas and Mookie Betts followed with singles before Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to load the bases.

Freeman then got hold of Cecconi's fastball that was low in the strike zone and put it over the wall in right-center for his fifth homer of the year. It also was the third grand slam this season for the Dodgers.

Five pitches later, Smith added a solo shot to left-center, marking the second time this season the Dodgers have had back-to-back homers.

“I gave them pitches to hit and they hit them," Cecconi said. “It’s obvious that they hit a lot of home runs and put a lot of barrels on baseballs and they did that in the third.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: OF Alek Thomas (strained left hamstring) has started pool running and taking live at-bats.

Dodgers: RHP Evan Phillips (right hamstring strain) is expected to have a two- to three-game rehab assignment sometime this week. ... RHP Bobby Miller (right shoulder inflammation) will throw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Arizona RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-3, 4.17 ERA) takes on Los Angeles RHP Gavin Stone (4-1, 3.27 ERA) in Tuesday's middle game of the series.

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Los Angeles Sparks' Cameron Brink, left, and Rickea Jackson, right, throw the ceremonial first pitches before a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Joe Mantiply throws to a Los Angeles Dodgers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Kevin Newman, left, throws over Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, right, to compete a double play after a ground ball hit by Dodgers' Freddie Freeman during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto follows through to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. makes a sliding catch on a fly ball hit by Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, left, is safe at first base on a bunt single past Arizona Diamondbacks first base Christian Walker, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto points to the home plate umpire during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Kiké Hernández, left, celebrates after his solo home run with Teoscar Hernández during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Kevin Newman, right, scores past Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, left, on a single by Diamondbacks' Joc Pederson during the third inning of a baseball game Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman watches his grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates after his grand slam with teammate Shohei Ohtani (17) during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, May 20, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Friday rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to weigh a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten said the wording the legislative council suggested is “packed with emotion and partisan meaning” and asked for what he called more “neutral” language. The measure aims to expand abortion access from 15 weeks to 24 weeks – the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

It would allow exemptions to save the woman’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would also prevent the state from adopting or enforcing laws that would forbid access to the procedure.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who is a co-chair of the legislative council, said the group will appeal the court’s decision to the state Supreme Court.

“The ruling is just plain wrong and clearly partisan,” said Toma, a Republican.

Aaron Thacker, communications director for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, noted that the final decision on the ballot itself remains in the air.

“There’s still a lot of scenarios at play," he said. "Even after the secretary certifies the signatures, the courts have to decide if counties can put it on the ballot or not."

Arizona for Abortion Access, the organization leading the ballot measure campaign, sued the council earlier this month over the suggested language and advocated for the term “fetus,” which the council rejected.

Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a motion to submit an amicus brief that “fetus" and “pregnancy” are both neutral terms that the council could adopt.

“It’s incredibly important to us that Arizona voters get to learn more about and weigh our measure in objective and accurate terminology,” said Dawn Penich, communications director for the abortion access group.

Democrats have centered abortion rights in their campaigns in this year’s elections. Organizers in five other states have also proposed similar measures that would codify abortion access in their state constitutions: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Arizona organizers submitted more than double the amount of signatures needed for the measure to appear on the ballot.

FILE - Arizona abortion-rights supporters deliver over 800,000 petition signatures to the capitol to get abortion rights on the November general election ballot July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. A judge on Friday, July 26, rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to decide on a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)