Dodgers fall to Diamondbacks, 4-2, in home opener

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Broadcaster Vin Scully arrives at Dodgers Stadium to call the final home opener of his career.

There was plenty of live entertainment, several new stadium food options and a special ceremonial first pitch honoring Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully, who is in his 67th and final season in the booth for the Dodgers, before the team’s home opener on Tuesday.

There was also a little baseball played in Chavez Ravine, with the Dodgers and Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda facing the Arizona Diamondbacks and left-hander Patrick Corbin.

The pregame ceremony celebrated many of the great moments in Scully’s iconic career. The beloved broadcaster had a street named after him on Monday.

Among the new dishes being offered in Dodger Stadium this season are a Gouda Kobe Burger, available at Elysian Park Grill, a Dodger Dog topped with pulled pork, a Kings Hawaiian Dog (quarter-pound hot dog topped with pineapple salsa), a pastrami burger and a spicy-pork bratwurst link infused with Shock Top beer, served on a buttered-grilled roll with caramelized onions and spicy brown mustard.

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Manager Dave Roberts discusses the Dodgers’ 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks in their home opener on April 12.

The bag at first base was empty, extending an invitation to Dodgers reliever Chris Hatcher. He had thrown three consecutive balls to Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, one of the finest hitting specimens on the planet. He could choose passivity and grant Goldschmidt a walk with the game tied in the eighth inning. Or he could attempt some version of gallantry.

Hatcher went the latter route, and his choice proved decisive in a 4-2 defeat to Arizona. He threw Goldschmidt a 96-mph fastball at the waist. Goldschmidt bashed a go-ahead home run about a dozen rows deep in left field. The pattern from the weekend in San Francisco held: Everything the relievers touched turned to ash.

Hatcher exited four batters later, having walked the bases loaded. The crowd jeered his departure but applauded Manager Dave Roberts for removing him from the game for Louis Coleman. Acquired last winter in the trade that sent Dee Gordon to Miami, Hatcher acted the temporary avatar for the public’s discontent with the Dodgers’ roster construction.

To salt the wound, the Diamondbacks scored twice more in the ninth inning off Coleman. Kenley Jansen warmed up during the bottom of the eighth, but with the Dodgers trailing, Roberts stuck with Coleman. Corey Seager doubled and scored in the ninth, but the deficit was too great to overcome.

The bullpen spoiled the afternoon. Pedro Baez surrendered a game-tying home run to shortstop Nick Ahmed in the seventh inning. The homer was a line drive that barely cleared the fence in left field, but it still counted. Baez cost Kenta, who threw six scoreless innings, a chance at his second victory.

After a season-opening sweep against the Padres, the Dodgers (4-4) have lost four of five. The offense sputtered throughout the game and failed to bring the crowd at Dodger Stadium to life.

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Dodgers’ bottom of the ninth inning:

The Diamondbacks went to closer Brad Ziegler in the ninth, three outs away from their third win of the season.

Keeping the Dodgers’ hopes alive, Corey Seager doubled to left. Manger Dave Roberts then called for Joc Pederson to bat for A.J. Ellis, who grounded out to second, but advanced Seager to third.

Yasmani Grandal then replaced Louis Coleman and grounded out to first to score Seager from third.

Enrique Hernandez then came up to bat, but was called out on strikes ending the game.

Diamondbacks’ top of the ninth inning:

The Dodgers moved Enrique Hernandez to center field and put Howie Kendrick out in left to open the inning, allowing Chase Utley to take over duties at second base.

The Diamondbacks got on base when Louis Coleman hit Nick Ahmed with an 89-mph fastball.

Jean Segura then swung at the first pitch he saw, popping out to new left fielder Howie Kendrick.

But, with Ahmed on base, Socrates Brito squared up another Coleman fastball and drove it to right for a run-scoring triple.

Goldschmidt then grounded out to short, scoring Brito from third to increase Arizona’s lead over the Dodgers to 4-1.

David Peralta popped out to center to end the inning.

Dodgers’ bottom of the eighth inning:

Arizona replaced Tyler Clippard in the eighth inning with Daniel Hudson.

Hudson hit Yasiel Puig with his second throw putting the outfielder on first base with Adrian Gonzalez at the plate.

Gonzalez then singled to right field, advancing Puig to second base.

With no outs and two-men on, Justin Turner fouled off back-to-back pitches before taking a ball and swinging and missing at a 94-mph fastball. One out.

Howie Kendrick popped out for the second, bringing up Chase Utley, batting for Trayce Thompson.

Utley must’ve liked what he saw coming out of Hudson’s hand right away, because he swung, connected, but ended up flying out to left to end the inning.

The Dodgers still trail the Diamondbacks, 2-1, heading in to the ninth inning.

Daniel Garcia and Marcus Larsen had Tuesday, the Dodgers’ home opener, circled on their calendar for very different reasons.

For Garcia, it was a time to celebrate and have a barbecue at his house on the newly christened Vin Scully Avenue, just down the hill from Dodger Stadium.

“It’s an L.A. tradition, we all want to have fun,” said the 27-year-old, holding a platter of freshly grilled tacos.

But for Marcus Larsen, 48, who lives around the corner on Lilac Terrace, opening day is the beginning of months of crowded streets, loud music and drunken revelers.

“It’s just a pain,” said Larsen, who said he has seen fans fighting in the street after games and can hardly bring himself to root for the Dodgers.

Garcia’s and Larsen’s differing reactions to the first game of the season show the pleasure and pain of living in the shadow of Chavez Ravine. For all the excitement the contests bring, they also can bring a deluge of unwanted noise and even danger, some residents say.

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Dodgers’ bottom of the seventh inning:

The Diamondbacks went to Tyler Clippard in the seventh inning.

Patrick Corbin was replaced in the top of the inning by an offensive substitute, but finished the afternoon with one earned run on six hits over six innings. He had one strike out and one walk.

Clippard immediately gave up a single to A.J. Ellis and then faced pinch hitter Charlie Culberson, batting for pitcher Pedro Baez.

But Culberson bunted into a double-play. Enrique Hernandez came up next, but was called out on strikes.

Pedro Baez replaced starter Kenta Maeda in the top of the seventh inning.

Maeda was scoreless through six innings while giving up five hits, striking out four and issuing one walk.

Baez got Yasmany Thomas to pop out to open the inning before he would face pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin, who replaced Arizona pitcher Patrick Corbin.

Gosselin was called out on strikes, but Baez then gave up a home run to Nick Ahmed, tying the score at 1-1.

The damaged stopped though, as Jean Segura flied out to center.

After saving a run to end the top of the sixth inning, Justin Turner didn’t have that same magic going into the bottom of the inning for the Dodgers.

Turner grounded out to open the inning and was followed back to the dugout by Howie Kendrick, who lined out right after him.

Trayce Thompson singled to left, but the inning ended with Corey Seager popping out to short.

Diamondbacks’ top of the sixth inning:

Arizona’s Welington Castillo singled with two outs in the sixth to get on base for Jake Lamb.

Lamb then drove an 80-mph slider out to right where Yasiel Puig fielded the ball and connected with the relay man, third baseman Justin Turner, who turned and fired the ball to catcher A.J. Ellis, who beat Castillo with a tag to end the inning.

Paul Goldschmidt grounded out to open the inning and David Peralta struck out for Arizona’s first two outs.

Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig tried to stretch a single into a double but was caught at second base...until further review revealed otherwise.

The Dodgers challenged the tag and ultimately won, though it wasn’t a quick review.

No matter. Kenta Maeda and Enrique Hernandez had previously grounded out to open the inning before Adrian Gonzalez took a swing at the first pitch he saw, resulting in an out to end the inning.

Diamondbacks’ top of the fifth inning:

Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda needed just five pitches to retire the Diamondbacks in the fifth inning, even after giving up a hit.

Nick Ahmed popped out on a first-pitch slider to shortstop. Jean Segura then singled on the second pitch thrown by Maeda who then got Socrates Brito to fly out.

With Paul Goldschmidt at the plate, Segura attempted to steal second base, but was thrown out by Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis.

Dodgers’ bottom of the fourth inning:

Howie Kendrick and Trayce Thompson went down with a ground out and a fly out to open the inning.

Corey Seager gutted out a 10-pitch at-bat to earn a walk to first, but then A.J. Ellis grounded out to strand the runner and end the inning.

Diamondbacks’ top of the fourth:

Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda issued his first walk of the day to Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta, who earned the free trip to first with an eight-pitch at-bat.

From there, Arizona’s Welington Castillo flied out to center, Jake Lamb popped up to short before Yasmany Thomas reached first on a throwing error by Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick.

Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin tried to lay down a bunt, but was thrown out at first, ending the inning.

Dodgers’ bottom of the third:

Enrique Hernandez led off the bottom of the third with a shallow single to left field, but the Dodgers stranded him on base.

Yasiel Puig flied out to right. Adrian Gonzalez struck swinging and then Justin Turner popped up to third base to end the inning.

Diamondbacks’ top of the third:

Segura grounds to second. Brito strikes out swinging. Goldschmidt flied to center.

Still 1-0 with the Dodgers heading into the bottom of the third.

Howie Kendrick singles to right to lead off the bottom of the second. Trayce Thompson follows with an infield single, putting runners at first and second with none out.

Corey Seager lines to right, with Kendrick taking third. A.J. Ellis puts down a perfect bunt to score Kendrick and move Thompson to second.

Kenta Maeda lines to right to end the inning.

Dodgers lead, 1-0 after two innings.

Diamondbacks’ top of second:

Wellington Castillo singles and takes third on Jake Lamb’s double to center.

Yasmany Tomas strikes out, and Patrick Corbin grounds to third, with the runners holding.

Nick Ahmed grounds to short to end the inning. Still 0-0 after the top of the second.

Enrique Hernandez leads off the bottom of the first with a single.

Puig forces Hernandez at second.

Adrian Gonzalez pops to short.

Justin Turner pops to short to end in the inning.

After hitting leadoff Jean Segura, Kenta Maeda retired the next three Diamondbacks. Dodgers 0, Arizona 0

During the helicopter flyover before the game, Dave Roberts asked Yasiel Puig, “Yasiel, are one of those yours?”

Al Michaels is on the field now to honor Vin Scully. He introduces Don Newcombe while some Scully classic calls of Newcombe games play. Same thing with Maury Wills.

Now introducing Sandy Koufax while they play Scully’s call of his perfect game.

Then Michaels introduces a video tribute from Hank Aaron, who wishes Vin the best, and they play Scully’s call of Aaron’s record-breaking home run.

The crowd is on their feet and cheering during all of this.

Then Michaels introducing Al Downing, who gave up the homer.

Next up, Rick Monday as they play what Scully said when Monday saved the American flag from being burned during a game in 1976.

Next up is Steve Garvey, Bill Russell and Ron Cey.

The biggest cheer, bigger than Koufax’s even, is for Fernando Valenzuela, who comes out as they play Scully’s call of his no-hitter.

Up next: Kirk Gibson, who says Scully’s call of his iconic World Series homer made it even more memorable in the eyes of the fans.

Orel Hershsier and Tommy Lasorda come out next.

Clayton Kershaw comes out next and the crowd goes crazy as they play Vin’s call of his no-hitter.

All this is capped off by having Peter O’Malley and Magic Johnson escort Vin Scully onto the field. This would have been a pretty good game to be at.

Scully throws out the first pitch as the crowd cheers and chants. A great tribute the Dodgers put together.

Remember when Frank Sinatra sang the national anthem before Tommy Lasorda’s first home game as Dodgers manager? Relive it here.

Follow Lindsey Thiry and the rest of the Times crew on Snapchat as they bring you images from the home opener. Follow us on Snapchat: LosAngelesTimes or click here.

The Dodgers took catcher Yasmani Grandal and second baseman Howie Kendrick off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

To make room on the roster, the Dodgers put outfielder Scott Van Slyke on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 10, because of low back irritation and optioned infielder Micah Johnson to triple-A Oklahoma City.

Walk-up songs for Dodgers players:

Chase Utley – “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin

Corey Seager – “Night’s On Fire” by David Nail

Justin Turner – “Turn Down for What” by Lil’ Jon and DJ Snake

Adrian Gonzalez – “El Mariachi Loco” by Mariachi Vargas

Yasiel Puig – “La Gozadera” by Gente de Zona

Joc Pederson – “White Iverson” by Post Malone

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1. Enrique Hernandez, left field

2. Yasiel Puig, right field

3. Adrian Gonzalez, first base

4. Justin Turner, third base

5. Howie Kendrick, second base

6. Trayce Thompson, center field

7. Corey Seager, shortstop

8. A.J. Ellis, catcher

9. Kenta Maeda, pitcher

The Dodgers will honor Vin Scully before tonight’s game.

(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

There will be a special ceremonial first pitch honoring Vin Scully, who is in his 67th and final season in the booth for the Dodgers, before the team’s home opener on Tuesday.

But first, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Angel City Dixie Band will play in the left-field reserve level, and four DJs will be performing, in the right-field reserve level, the right-field plaza, the left-field plaza and the top deck.

The Budweiser Clydesdales will make an appearance beginning at 10:30, making stops around the inner parking circle throughout the pregame.

Sam Harris will perform the national anthem.

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The Dodgers will debut some new food items on Tuesday. Among the offerings:

Gouda Kobe Burger: Kobe beef, topped with grilled onions, pickle, smoked Gouda and special dressing, available at Elysian Park Grill.

Pulled pork Dodger Dog at the Think Blue Barbecue.

King’s Hawaiian Dog: An all-beef hot dog topped with pineapple salsa, served on King’s Hawaiian bread.

Pastrami Burger, a quarter-pound beef patty on a potato bun topped with pastrami and stone-ground mustard.

Shock Top Bratwurst: Spicy pork bratwurst link infused with Shock Top beer served on a lobster roll.

Cast Iron Corn Bread and Fried Chicken at the Stadium Club.

No word yet on whether the new food comes with its own cholesterol self-check device and defibrillators.

As Vin Scully neared the end of his speech, his adoring audience started to chant.

“One more year! One more year!”

Scully smiled.

“I’ve given it a lot of consideration,” he said, “and, no, thank you very much.”

The crowd laughed.

You can’t blame the fans for trying. And you can’t blame them when they try again, which they certainly will do this season, the last of Scully’s Hall of Fame broadcasting career. Scully, 88, will call his final home opener Tuesday, when the Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Scully’s mastery extends beyond the calling of games.

Who else could make something as disgusting as a Dodger Dog sound delicious? Who else could elicit laughter at an event as mundane as a street dedication ceremony, as he did Monday?

Addressing a crowd that assembled for the official renaming of Elysian Park Avenue to Vin Scully Avenue, he said what he would miss most in retirement was the roar of the crowd.

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The Dodgers plan to reshape their 25-man roster before Tuesday’s home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with catcher Yasmani Grandal and second baseman Howie Kendrick set to leave the disabled list.

Grandal (forearm strain) finished a rehab stint with triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, and Kendrick (calf tightness) completed his assignment with class-A Rancho Cucamonga.

To clear space on the roster, the Dodgers must sift through the value of bench players like catcher Austin Barnes, infielder Charlie Culberson and recent call-up Micah Johnson. In addition, the team will reevaluate the tight back of outfielder Scott Van Slyke, who left Saturday’s game early and sat out Sunday.

Manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence that, unlike Carl Crawford, Van Slyke would not require a stint on the disabled list.

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The agony of a lost weekend, one in which he faced six batters and saw all of them score, showed on J.P. Howell’s face. But his voice conveyed why it is probably premature to attempt to evaluate the Dodgers after one shoddy series.

“When you’re here, you stay in the league for a long time, because when you go through struggles, you stay the same,” Howell said. “You don’t adjust right away. You trust what you’ve been doing. And then when it happens a couple more times, then it’s time to adjust.”

As the Dodgers (4-3) approach their home opener on Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the relievers are eager to erase the sting of three losses in four games to San Francisco. Yimi Garcia played a role in Thursday’s implosion. Chris Hatcher served up a game-tying homer Friday. Howell and Louis Coleman could not maintain a tied game on Sunday.

So the series with the Giants placed a red flag on the team’s bullpen. And the shortcomings of the rotation also place a burden on the relievers. Scott Kazmir absorbed a battering and blew a five-run lead Sunday. Alex Wood has yet to tame a lineup on the third turn through the batting order. Ross Stripling will operate on a strict pitch limit, as demonstrated by his early removal despite a no-hit bid Friday.

Manager Dave Roberts saw little reason to panic after Sunday’s defeat. Like Howell, Roberts looked weary after weathering the Giants’ storm. He called their offense “a clinic.” His own bullpen?

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