Monday's evening for the D-Backs started at an incredible pace. First, Christian Walker got a deep fly ball to left-center field that turned into a mammoth 404ft homerun. Second, Madison Bumgardner was pitching at an optimal level.
Then, there was the bottom of the fifth inning.
Mookie Betts got a hit a crisp single into center field with two on and one out in the fifth inning. Chris Taylor had to freeze off second base because the ball had to clear a leaping Ketel Marte at second. However, Taylor could stop at third if Alek Thomas (CF) can recover the bouncing baseball.
But, Thomas had to sprint to recover the ball with his back to the infield. Los Angeles had scored the game-tying run and had the go-ahead run at third, with the speedy Betts able to get to third. Eventually, the former MVP would score on Freddie Freeman's RBI double. The Dodgers led the Diamondbacks 3-2 at the end of the fifth.
After the game, Thomas said that the Dodger Stadium grass was wet, which he claimed he had overlooked as he prepared to field the ball. However, even with this hiccup, Thomas has been doing great since he got the call on mother's day, slashing .304/.333/.565 and a .899 OPS. Unfortunately, this play will be his first major league career error.
Bumgardner assured the rookie that this was an honest mistake. Nick Piecoro (Arizona Republic) reported that Bumgardner made a statement regarding the error that would bring two runs.
""I just liked that it happened because he was being aggressive trying to keep the guy from scoring from second, and he would have. I don't think they [would] send him if comes up with it clean there because he was coming in so hard.""Madison Bumgardner
This error would be critical. The Diamondbacks would not come back to win, even with a two-run homer from David Peralta in the top of the ninth. As a result, Arizona took the loss against the Dodgers 5-4.