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Rookie Waldschmidt's Walk-Off Homer Beats Dodgers, Extends Skid

8/8/2026

Summary

Waldschmidt Walk-Off

Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a walk-off two-run homer off Edwin Díaz, giving Arizona a 4-3 win over Los Angeles.
Roki Sasaki threw six innings for Arizona, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Andy Pages’ solo ninth-inning homer gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead.
The loss stretched the Dodgers’ skid to seven games, matching a July 2025 streak, and left Arizona ahead 6-5.

Summary

Dodgers Bullpen Woes

Dodgers spent $141 million on closers Edwin Diaz ($69 million) and Tanner Scott ($72 million) yet still lack a dependable shutdown option.
An MRI showed reliever Will Klein has elbow bone chips that could require season-ending surgery and further strain the bullpen.
Los Angeles retains a 7½-game NL West lead but would fall to the No. 3 seed if the season ended today.
The next chance to stop the skid is Saturday’s second game against Arizona at 8:10 p.m. ET.

History

Historical Context

In 2010 the Mets gave closer Francisco Rodríguez an eight-year, $82 million deal, but his 2.45 ERA coincided with a seven-game losing streak that revived the bullpen failures that doomed the 2007 club after a late-season collapse. Commissioner Bud Selig approved the contract, echoing the franchise’s recurring struggle to secure reliable relief pitching.

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Waldschmidt Walk-Off

Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a walk-off two-run homer off Edwin Díaz, giving Arizona a 4-3 win over Los Angeles.
Roki Sasaki threw six innings for Arizona, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts.
Andy Pages’ solo ninth-inning homer gave Los Angeles a 3-2 lead.
The loss stretched the Dodgers’ skid to seven games, matching a July 2025 streak, and left Arizona ahead 6-5.

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