The Dodgers must have wanted to hear the trumpets on Friday night.

Because right as new closer Edwin Díaz began to warm up with the score tied in the bottom of the eighth inning, their previously slumbering lineup finally came back to life.

In a 5-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers gave what had been a slog of a game a high-octane (and high-priced) finish.

As new closer Edwin Díaz began to warm-up in the bottom of the eighth inning, their previously slumbering lineup finally came to life. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

To break the 4-4 tie, Alex Freeland hit a leadoff double and came around to score on a go-ahead RBI single from Kyle Tucker, his first signature moment since signing a $240 million deal this winter. 

That set the stage for the top of the ninth, when Díaz’s iconic, trumpet-filled entrance song “Narco” was performed  by live trumpeter Tatiana Tate out in left field. 

Díaz took care of the inning, recording his first Dodgers save since inking his own $69 million blockbuster contract this offseason.

And all the offensive frustration that had been building up before then was quickly negated, handing the Dodgers a series win to open their pursuit of a third-straight World Series. 

“The two acquisitions this offseason,” manager Dave Roberts said, “came up big tonight.”

Before the late theatrics, the Dodgers (2-0) had struggled to generate much at the plate.

With the score tied 4-4 in the eighth, Alex Freeland hit a leadoff double and came around to score on a go-ahead RBI single from Kyle Tucker. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Their first hit didn’t come until the third inning, when Freeland –– fresh off beating out Hyeseong Kim for the final spot on the roster this spring –– hit a solo home run.

Three batters later, Mookie Betts cranked an opposite-field shot for a three-run homer, turning an early two-run deficit into a two-run lead.

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But after that, the Dbacks (0-2) retired 14 Dodgers hitters in a row, preserving what had become a 4-4 tie after Alek Thomas’ two-run double in the fourth.

That left a big task for the Dodgers’ bullpen, which was called into action early after starter Emmet Sheehan pitched only 3 ⅓ innings. Each arm they turned to, however, put a zero on the scoreboard; culminating in the playing of trumpets and a second-straight Dodgers season-opening win.

Their first hit didn’t come until the third inning, when Freeland –– fresh off beating out Hyeseong Kim for the final spot on the roster this spring –– hit a solo home run. AP

What it means

So far, so good for the Dodgers’ two marquee offseason signings.

In addition to his game-winning hit in the eighth, Tucker had two outfield assists on relay plays with Freeland at second. He also followed his eight-inning single with a stolen base, advancing all the way to third on a bad throw.

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Díaz, meanwhile, was able to skirt around trouble in the ninth, stranding a runner at second after a one-out walk and stolen base from Thomas.

He collected two strikeouts in his outing, and ended the game on a groundout from All-Star Ketel Marte.

Alex Freeland didn’t hit much during the spring, winning a platoon job at second base despite a .125 Cactus League batting average. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Who’s hot

Freeland didn’t hit much during the spring, winning a platoon job at second base despite a .125 Cactus League batting average.

But in his first regular-season start Friday, the 24-year-old rookie validated the team’s faith.

His third-inning home run came after he fell behind in the count 0-2 against Ryne Nelson, only to lay off a couple pitches and launch an inside fastball to the right-field pavilion. 

After that, he added his eighth-inning double on a line drive to the right-center field gap, setting up the game-winning rally. 

“I wasn’t thinking about any of the outside noise,” said Freeland, whose inclusion on the roster over Kim caused consternation from some corners of the fan base. “I just tried to have a quality at-bat, like I’ve been doing all spring. So nothing really changed.”

Emmet Sheehan was playing catch-up all spring, and in his season debut, it showed. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Who’s not

Sheehan was playing catch-up all spring, both with his pitching progression (thanks to an illness that put him behind schedule early in camp) and with his fastball velocity (which was a couple ticks below his average of 95.6 mph from last year).

In his season debut Friday, it showed. After striking out the side in the first, Sheehan gave up runs in the second (on a Thomas double) and third (on a Marte 3-0 homer) before allowing two runners to reach in the fourth –– and being removed with his limited pitch count already up to 83.

The right-hander’s fastball velocity remained down, averaging just 94 mph. And while he finished with six strikeouts, he also allowed five hits, two walks and four runs, with the runners he left behind coming around to score against Jack Dreyer.

“I think it’s just my delivery is a little bit off,” Sheehan said. “But we’re working hard on it, so it’s going to get right. I know it will.”

Up next

The Dodgers go for a series sweep on Saturday, when Tyler Glasnow will make his season debut following a promising performance this spring. The Dbacks will counter with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, the veteran pitcher who infamously nixed a trade to the Dodgers at the 2023 deadline.