Sloppy Defense Leads to Dodgers Dropping Series Opener Against Diamondbacks

The Los Angeles Dodgers cannot wait for the All-Star break. 

Visit h-doctor.club for more information.

It's not because the Dodgers have won nine of their last 13 games — that's the positive — but the last slew of games defensively for the ballclub has been forgettable. 

Friday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks was another prime example of that as they committed three errors in the 9-3 loss.

With three additional errors in the final tally, the Dodgers' defense has committed six errors in their last three games. Through the first 91 games of the season, they had committed 26 errors. 

Before first pitch, the Dodgers had to pivot from Shohei Ohtani's scheduled start to a bullpen game. The reason, according to the Dodgers, was that Ohtani was still dealing with left knee inflammation. 

Jul 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates a home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. -- © William Navarro-Imagn Images

The Dodgers decided that Ohtani would not only skip his Friday start but also miss the All-Star Game entirely. Though he was not on the mound, Ohtani rounded out the first half of the season in his regular spot as the designated hitter. 

Even though his knee was bothering him, that surely did not affect his bat. Ohtani cranked his 26th leadoff home run as a member of the Dodgers in the first to cut the early deficit by one. 

Fellow All-Star Andy Pages followed that up with a solo shot of his own, and the Dodgers went back-to-back to tie up the ballgame after opener Kyle Hurt gave up two earned runs in the first. 

Jul 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) high-fives teammates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. -- © William Navarro-Imagn Images 

Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez, who was named to his first All-Star team, settled down after giving up back-to-back jacks. 

Rodriguez managed to log in six innings and strike out five on seven hits. 

On the home side, the combination of a bullpen game, defensive mishaps, and lack of offense created a recipe for pure implosion. 

And, to make matters worse, they squeezed their bullpen dry like a minuscule tube of toothpaste. 

With the loss, the Dodgers drop to 61-33. They look to avoid the series loss on Saturday with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. 

Join the Community

Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news!

It's completely free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.

Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!

Read full story at source