Dodgers post 18 hits, secure series split vs. D-backs

Freddie Freeman had four hits including a home run and three RBIs, Mookie Betts homered among his three hits and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 in Phoenix on Sunday.

Freeman had the first of two doubles to drive in a run in the first, hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth and had a solo homer in the seventh to help stake the Dodgers to a 5-0 lead and a split of the four-game series.

Will Smith had two hits and two RBIs, Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages had two hits and an RBI apiece and Michael Conforto had two hits for the Dodgers, who tied a season high with 18 hits.

Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin (2-0) gave up three hits in five innins to win his third start of the season. He struck out four, walked two and pitched out of two-on, two-out situations in the first and third innings to preserve a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers have won 11 of 15.

Pavin Smith had two hits and Jose Herrera had an RBI double for the D-backs, who have not won a season series against the Dodgers since 2018. The teams meet 13 times this season.

Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen (3-5) gave up four runs on a season-high 10 hits, with five strikeouts and two walks over 5 2/3 innings. He is 1-5 in 14 career starts against the Dodgers and has given up 23 runs in his last 24 2/3 innings against them.

Betts singled with one out in the first and scored on Freeman’s double to the fence in left-center for a 1-0 lead.

The Dodgers took a 3-0 lead in the fifth. Ohtani and Betts singled to open the inning, with Ohtani taking third and Betts advancing to second on the throw to third. Freeman moved the runners up with a sacrifice fly to center and Smith singled in Betts to make it 3-0.

Ohtani had an RBI single in the sixth. Arizona’s Alek Thomas singled and scored on Herrera’s two-out double in the seventh.

Betts homered in a three-run ninth.