Moreno hits grand slam off Yamamoto, lifts Diamondbacks to 5-3 win over the Dodgers

PHOENIX (AP) — Gabriel Moreno hit a grand slam off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Brandon Pfaadt threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series between NL West rivals.

Shohei Ohtani hit a solo homer in the ninth — his 11th long ball of the season — but the Dodgers have now dropped three of their past five games.

Yamamoto (4-3) came into the game with an 0.90 ERA, which led the big leagues, but ran into trouble in the fourth. Pavin Smith walked, Josh Naylor singled and Eugenio Suárez was hit by a pitch with no outs before Moreno drove a cutter to right, barely clearing the fence for his first homer of the season.

Ketel Marte added a solo homer in the fifth to make it 5-0. Kevin Ginkel worked the ninth for his first save of the year.

Pfaadt (6-2) continued his stellar start to the season, giving up four hits, walking three and striking out six. Yamamoto gave up five runs on six hits and a walk, striking out four.

Max Muncy's ground-rule double and Andy Pages' single both scored runs as the Dodgers cut the margin to 5-2 in the eighth. Michael Conforto grounded into a double play to end the rally.

The Dodgers were threatening in the eighth before Marte started a spectacular double play to end the threat. The second baseman ranged to his left and snagged Conforto's grounder before wheeling and firing to Geraldo Perdomo at second, whose throw to Naylor at first was just in time.

The Diamondbacks won their 20th game of the year. The NL West is the only division that has four teams with 20-plus wins. The other team is the Colorado Rockies, who are 6-31.

RHP Roki Sasaki (1-1, 3.86 ERA) will start for the Dodgers against LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (1-3, 5.92) and the Diamondbacks on Friday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, waits to bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to a baseball game Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno watches the flight of his grand slam against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18), of Japan, holds a new ball after giving up a grand slam to Arizona Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno, right, during the fourth inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

PHOENIX (AP) — San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb will start on the mound for Team USA in its first World Baseball Classic game Friday night against Brazil, manager Mark DeRosa said Monday.

DeRosa added that two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is expected to start Saturday against Britain, followed by NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes versus Mexico on Monday.

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start on Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, even though he's dealing with an illness and wasn't with the U.S. team for Monday's practice.

“It's set up,” DeRosa said. “There are obviously guardrails for the tournament to begin with, pitch-count wise, but there's also guardrails for guys having to throw on certain days to get ready for their team's opening day.”

The U.S. will play two exhibtion games in Arizona on Tuesday and Wednesday before traveling to Houston for the WBC opener against Brazil. Skenes will start Tuesday's game against the Giants. DeRosa said Matthew Boyd, Gabe Speier, David Bednar, Griffin Jax and Mason Miller will also take the mound.

Skubal is expected to make just one start for the U.S. before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of spring training.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) throws during workouts at spring training baseball, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Lakeland. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)