BETH HARRIS, Related Press
5 hours in the past
Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker, left, watches his solo house run through the first inning of a baseball recreation towards the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, July 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photograph/Ryan Solar)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Christian Walker had one other efficiency at Dodger Stadium, sparking the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first two at-bats along with his 18th and nineteenth house runs in 42 profession video games.
“He's enjoying at an unimaginable stage, an All-Star caliber stage,” Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen stated. “I hope Main League Baseball sees that and finds a approach to get him on the (All-Star) crew.”
Whereas his teammates erupted, Walker crossed house plate with a peaceful expression that belied his beautiful efficiency. The Diamondbacks defeated Los Angeles 9-3 on Thursday to take two of three video games from the NL West leaders.
“It's Babe Ruth towards us,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated.
Walker's five-game hitting streak is the third-oldest within the majors, tying teammate Joc Pederson for the longest single-season hit streak with Los Angeles in 2015.
“He received us the collection,” Pederson stated. “It's unimaginable to see somebody in particular person go on a run like that.
Pederson and Walker went back-to-back with two outs in rookie Landon Knack's first, with Walker's 435-foot blast to heart. After Pederson walked with two outs within the third, Walker adopted with a two-run homer to go away Knack's 1-2 pitch and provides Arizona a 4-0 lead in a 9-3 victory.
“I do know sufficient about this recreation, attempt to decrease this curler coaster,” Walker stated. “Respect the great, however this recreation is troublesome day by day, so attempt to be life like about expectations.
Walker had 5 homers in a three-game hitting streak. He has 22 homers this season, 9 towards the Dodgers.
“What I really feel on the plate is possibly a bit of little bit of a toned down effort that helps make higher selections,” he stated.
On Wednesday evening, Walker homered twice and bunted thrice for the cycle in a 12-4 victory.
“Christian is himself,” D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo stated. “He does all of the little issues to ensure his recreation is tuned. He deserves what he will get.”
After opening with two homers Thursday, Walker drew his first intentional stroll of the collection with two outs within the fifth. He was grounded out within the seventh with a damaged bat and drew a four-pitch stroll within the ninth to load the bases.
“He killed us final time — his entire profession,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes stated.
The 33-year-old first baseman hails from the identical Norristown, Pennsylvania, hometown because the late Dodgers supervisor Tommy Lasorda. Former Dodgers nice Mike Piazza can also be from the realm.
“The baseball group on this space is fairly small, clearly with the massive Lasorda title,” Walker stated. “To even be shut in the identical dialog as these guys, that's an honor.
He was drafted by the Dodgers within the forty ninth spherical in 2009, however didn’t signal and as a substitute performed for the College of South Carolina, the place he helped the Gamecocks win the School World Sequence in 2010 and 2011.
Recalling who drafted him and what he's been doing with the Dodgers these days, Walker stated, “Such a humorous full-circle factor.”
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