Christian Walker hits another home run at Dodger Stadium as D-backs storm

LOS ANGELES — Christian Walker put on another power display at Dodger Stadium, igniting the Arizona Diamondbacks in his first two at-bats with his 18th and 19th home runs in 42 career games at the stadium.

“He’s playing at an unbelievable level, an All-Star level,” Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen said. “I hope Major League Baseball sees that and finds a way to get him on the (All-Star) team.”

As his teammates erupted in joy, Walker crossed the plate with a placid expression that betrayed his breathtaking performance. The Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 9-3 on Thursday, winning two of three games against the NL West leaders.

“It’s Babe Ruth against us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Walker has hit a home run in five straight games at the major league’s third-oldest stadium, tying the longest single-season streak at the stadium with teammate Joc Pederson, who did it in 2015 with Los Angeles.

“He won the series for us,” Pederson said. “It’s amazing to see someone in person have a series like that.”

Pederson and Walker teamed up in the first inning with two outs against rookie Landon Knack, with Walker’s home run going 435 feet to center field. After Pederson walked with two outs in the third inning, Walker followed with a two-run home run to left field on Knack’s 1-2 pitch, giving Arizona a 4-0 lead in the 9-3 victory.

“I know enough about this game, I try to minimize that roller coaster,” Walker said. “I appreciate the good parts, but this game is tough every day, so I just try to be realistic about expectations.”

Walker hit five home runs in the three-game series. He has 22 this season, including nine against the Dodgers.

“What I feel at bat is maybe a little bit less effort that helps me make better decisions,” he said.

On Wednesday night, Walker hit two home runs and drove in three runs to drive in the cycle in a 12-4 victory.

“Christian is a self-made man,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “He does whatever it takes to make sure his game is perfect. He deserves what he gets.”

After leading off the game with two homers Thursday, Walker drew his first intentional walk of the series with two outs in the fifth. He was retired on a broken-up strikeout in the seventh and drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases in the ninth.

“He’s been killing us the whole time he’s been playing,” Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes said.

The 33-year-old first baseman hails from the same town as former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Former Dodgers star Mike Piazza is also from the area.

“The baseball community in this area is pretty small, with Lasorda being a big name,” Walker said. “Just to be on the same level as those guys in the same conversation is an honor.”

He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 49th round in 2009, but did not sign and instead played for the University of South Carolina, where he helped the Gamecocks win the College World Series in 2010 and 2011.

Recalling who drafted him and what he’s been doing with the Dodgers lately, Walker said, “It’s a pretty funny, full-circle thing.”