Dodgers rookie Kenta Maeda struck by line drive, knocked out of game
PHOENIX — Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts watched from the dugout as rookie right-hander Kenta Maeda writhed in pain after being hit by a line drive.
The Dodgers' pitching staff already had endured more than its share of injuries and it appeared as if they would lose another one.
For once this season, the Dodgers caught a break.
Maeda had to leave in the sixth inning after being struck on the right leg by Paul Goldschmidt's line drive, but was walking around fine in the clubhouse after the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-4 on Tuesday night.
X-rays were negative and Roberts said he's expecting Maeda (6-4) to make his next start.
"I held my breath, certainly," Roberts said. "In light of what's happened this season and prior to, that would have been a tough one."
Kenta Maeda grabs his right leg after being hit by a batted ball by Arizona's Paul Goldschmidt during the sixth inning Tuesday in Phoenix. The injured Maeda had to leave the game.
The Dodgers overcame Maeda's injury with a string of homers and big hits.
Chase Utley hit a two-run single in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh. Joc Pederson hit two solo homers off Archie Bradley (2-3) and Justin Turner added another.
Los Angeles' bullpen held after Maeda's injury and Kenley Jansen struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save, ending the Dodgers' losing streak at three games.
"We came up with some big hits," Pederson said.
The Diamondbacks matched Los Angeles with nine hits and had half as many stranded runners (10-5), but didn't have the firepower to keep up with the Dodgers after their outburst against Bradley in the fifth and sixth innings.
Jean Segura had four hits and scored two runs for Arizona.
"(I had) really good stuff until the fifth and just hit a wall," Bradley said.
Maeda has had a strong first season with the Dodgers after eight years playing in Japan, particularly on the road, where he had gone 3-0 with a 1.91 ERA in five starts.
He gave up run-scoring singles in the first, third and fifth innings to the Diamondbacks, but the Dodgers were up 5-3 after knocking around Bradley.
Maeda's night ended painfully when Goldschmidt lined a ball back at him. He managed to lob the ball to first for the out, but immediately went down clutching his knee. Los Angeles' trainers raced out to help him and he was eventually able to get up, needing help to the clubhouse.
Maeda allowed three runs and six hits with six strikeouts.
"Where it hit, it was some kind of nerve," Roberts said. "As he feels now, he's considerably better. There's a bruise there, but it was the nerve that made the leg go dead."
Bradley was sharp against the Dodgers early, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning. His night came unraveled in that inning, starting with Pederson's solo homer to left. Bradley walked the next two batters and Utley lined a two-run single to put the Dodgers up 3-2.
Turner hit Bradley's first pitch of the sixth out to left for a homer and Pederson hit his second later in the inning, a solo shot that put the Dodgers up 5-3.
Bradley was done after that, allowing five runs and four hits with nine strikeouts and three walks.
"It was a tough one to watch because he had no hit stuff. He really did," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said.
NUMBERS
Jansen has 160 career saves, one from tying Eric Gagne's team record. ... Goldschmidt has reached base safely in 19 straight games after hitting a run-scoring single in the third inning. ... Utley has scored 999 career runs. ... The Dodgers' Howie Kendrick has reached base safely in all eight career games at Chase Field.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Dodgers: OF Yasiel Puig homered and went 1 for 2 for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga in his first rehab start since straining his left hamstring. ... RHP Brandon McCarthy (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to make a rehab start at Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday, followed by LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder surgery) on Friday.
Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (sprained finger) was scheduled to make his second rehab start with Single-A Visalia on Tuesday night.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw has been dominant headed into Wednesday's series finale against Arizona, leading the majors in ERA (1.52) and strikeouts (122) while winning seven straight decisions.
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin is 3-4 with a save and 3.78 ERA in 10 career games against the Dodgers.
