Max Muncy’s Clutch Sacrifice Fly in 10th Inning Pushes Dodgers Past Diamondbacks as Shohei Ohtani Scores Go-Ahead Run

The Los Angeles Dodgers added another dramatic win to their season Tuesday night, this time in extra innings. Max Muncy delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th inning to bring home Shohei Ohtani with the go-ahead run, lifting the Dodgers to a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The clutch play capped off a tense, back-and-forth contest and offered another showcase of the Dodgers’ depth, resilience, and timely execution.

The game was a pitcher’s duel early on, with both teams getting strong outings from their starters. The Dodgers leaned on right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who continued his solid start to the season with another composed performance. He worked six strong innings, allowing just two runs on five hits while striking out seven. On the other side, Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt turned in a competitive outing of his own, matching Glasnow in intensity and keeping the Dodgers’ potent lineup mostly in check through six innings.

The game opened up in the later innings as both teams found ways to scratch across key runs. The Dodgers struck first in the third inning when Gavin Lux lined an RBI single to right field, scoring Andy Pages, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Arizona responded quickly in the bottom half of the third with a run of their own, thanks to Corbin Carroll’s aggressive baserunning and Ketel Marte’s sharp single up the middle.

The two sides continued trading punches into the late innings. Ohtani, who had a quiet night until that point, worked a walk in the top of the seventh and then stole second base, showcasing his two-way talent and elite athleticism. Freddie Freeman followed with a single to put runners at the corners. Will Smith then hit a grounder that Arizona failed to turn into a double play, allowing Ohtani to cross the plate and put the Dodgers up 2-1.

But the lead would not last long. In the bottom of the seventh, the Diamondbacks staged a rally of their own. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. led off with a single, and after a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch, he came around to score on a ground ball from Christian Walker. That tied the game at two and shifted the momentum back toward Arizona, energizing the home crowd.

Neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings, though there were tense moments. Dodgers relievers Evan Phillips and Ryan Brasier were sharp, retiring the heart of the Diamondbacks’ lineup in key situations. Arizona’s Kevin Ginkel matched them pitch for pitch, sending the game into extra innings.

With the game tied at 2-2 heading into the 10th, the Dodgers took advantage of the automatic runner placed at second base. Ohtani, who had started the inning on second, moved to third on a groundout by Freeman. That set the stage for Muncy, who fell behind in the count but stayed composed. On a 1-2 pitch, he lifted a fly ball deep enough to left field to score Ohtani without a play at the plate. It was a textbook example of situational hitting, and it gave the Dodgers a crucial 3-2 lead.

But the inning wasn’t over yet. Smith followed with a single, and Enrique Hernández added an RBI double off the left field wall, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2. The insurance run proved vital.

The Diamondbacks made things interesting in the bottom of the 10th. With Jake McCarthy starting at second, J.D. Martinez—facing his former team—singled to center, bringing Arizona within a run. But Dodgers closer Daniel Hudson, brought in for the save, held his nerve. After a mound visit and a walk to Alek Thomas that put the winning run on first, Hudson struck out Geraldo Perdomo swinging on a high fastball to end the game.

The victory pushed the Dodgers to 29-17 on the season and gave them a commanding series edge over a division rival. Manager Dave Roberts praised his team’s ability to execute in high-leverage moments.

“That’s playoff-style baseball right there,” Roberts said after the game. “It was tight, every pitch mattered, and our guys stepped up when it counted—especially Max with that sac fly, and Ohtani setting the tone on the bases.”

Ohtani’s performance, though not explosive statistically, was another reminder of his constant threat. His walk, stolen base, and aggressive baserunning in the 10th set the Dodgers up for success, and he continues to impact games even when he isn’t launching home runs or dominating on the mound. He finished the night 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored.

Muncy’s game-winning RBI was his 34th of the season, and it couldn’t have come at a more important moment. After the game, he downplayed his role and praised Ohtani’s hustle.

“My job was just to get something in the air,” Muncy said. “Shohei did the hard part getting to third and reading the play. We’re playing for each other, and tonight that made the difference.”

For Arizona, the loss was their 22nd of the season, dropping them to 23-22 and further behind the Dodgers in the National League West standings. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the sting of the loss but said he was proud of how his team battled.

“These are the games that show who you are,” Lovullo said. “We went toe to toe with one of the best teams in the league. We just came up a little short.”

Arizona’s bullpen, which had been mostly reliable throughout the season, was unable to hold the Dodgers in the 10th. Despite Ginkel’s strong showing in the ninth, Justin Martinez couldn’t replicate the success, allowing both the sacrifice fly and the RBI double in the 10th. Lovullo said afterward that the team would continue to mix and match in the late innings, especially with closer Paul Sewald still working his way back from injury.

Defensively, both teams were sharp, with standout plays from Mookie Betts at shortstop and Carroll in the outfield. Betts turned a slick double play in the fifth inning that erased a leadoff baserunner and stifled a potential rally. Carroll made a diving catch in the sixth that robbed Smith of a hit and kept the game tight.

The Dodgers have now won seven of their last nine games and are beginning to separate themselves atop the division standings. With their starting pitching stabilizing and the bullpen holding firm, their offense continues to find timely production even on nights when the long ball isn’t the main weapon.

Tuesday’s game may not have featured a barrage of fireworks, but it was a classic example of winning baseball—execution, awareness, and teamwork. The Dodgers have plenty of stars, but it’s often the small things that make the difference. A well-placed walk. A stolen base. A productive out. It all added up to a critical road win in a hostile environment.

Looking ahead, the Dodgers will send James Paxton to the mound for Wednesday’s series finale. The veteran left-hander has been steady in his return to a full-time role this season and will look to build on recent success. Arizona counters with Ryne Nelson, who is searching for consistency after an up-and-down start to 2025.

Both clubs recognize the importance of these head-to-head matchups, particularly as the calendar edges toward June and the playoff picture starts to form. For the Dodgers, games like Tuesday’s only reinforce their identity: a veteran, talented group that knows how to win close games.

In the end, Muncy’s sac fly might seem like a small moment in a long season. But it was exactly what the Dodgers needed. And it might just be a preview of more high-stakes moments to come.