Christian Walker smashed two home runs, while Joc Pederson sealed the deal with a grand slam later on as the Arizona Diamondbacks sailed past the Los Angeles Angels 11-1 on Thursday night.
Arizona clinched victories in two out of three games in the series and has now won eight of its last 12 games.
Walker kick-started the D-backs’ offense in the first inning with a three-run homer on a full count. Using his powerful swing, the first baseman connected with an inside fastball from Griffin Canning, sending the ball soaring deep into the left field seats for his 14th home run of the season.
“It felt really good to contribute early for the team,” Walker remarked. “Having a chance with a couple guys on base to make it count in the first inning was crucial.”
Just two innings later, Walker launched his 15th home run, this time with another powerful swing that sent Canning’s hanging slider flying 464 feet over the left-center wall, extending the D-backs’ lead to 4-0.
Walker is maintaining a pace for his third consecutive 30-homer season and has earned a Gold Glove in each of the past two seasons. While he hasn’t been named an All-Star yet, his significance in the heart of the D-backs’ lineup is undeniable.
This marks his second two-homer game of the season and the 11th of his career.
“It’s a textbook swing,” praised D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. “If I had to teach someone a swing, I’d tell them to watch Christian Walker. It’s a beautifully simple approach with a high level of intensity and intelligence in every at-bat.”
Arizona’s right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (3-5) allowed just one run on six hits and three walks while striking out eight. It was a solid rebound for the 25-year-old, who had surrendered 13 runs over his last 18 1/3 innings.
“When Walker does that twice early in the game, it gets the party started,” Pfaadt commented. “It makes it a lot easier to attack the zone, make some pitches early, and frees up the zone.”
Kevin Newman contributed three hits, including a two-run single. Pederson’s grand slam — the third of his career — came in the seventh inning off Luis García and traveled 430 feet into the right-center seats.
