PHOENIX — Arizona held big hitters Paul Goldschmidt and David Peralta out of the lineup against the Dodgers in a game critical to the NL West. Contender Colorado knew it was coming.Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo briefed Colorado skipper Bud Black in a telephone conversation Sunday http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , as the Rockers were sweeping a three-game series at Chase Field.“I just wanted to make sure he knew … that even though the lineup may look like we weren’t doing what we were supposed to do, and hold serve for him the best way we could, we were,” Lovullo said.Article continues below ...“Our team is a little emotionally spent. I think we’ve all felt that for the past three weeks. We have two more games against a team we are contending, and we don’t want to make anything easy on them.”It had worked before.Arizona beat the NL Central-leading Cubs with four understudies starting last Wednesday but could not pull it off Monday, when the Dodgers took a 7-4 comeback victory to remain 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado. The Rockies beat the Phillies’ regular group 10-1 Monday.The Dodgers got a homer and three RBIs from David Freese and two RBIs from Manny Machado, one on a double off the right-field fence in a three-run ninth inning, a ball Machado was so sure that was a homer that he eased his was out of the box. He took some ribbing from Matt Kemp in the clubhouse afterward.“I have to hit the weight room, Matthew, I get it,” Machado said, grinning.“I thought it was way out. At least I got the RBI and we got the lead. Matthew is just trying to play with me. It’s OK. I’ll wear it.”The Dodgers have a little room to play with, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he was not concerned what lineup opposing teams use, whether it is the Diamondbacks or the Rockies’ remaining opponents, Philadelphia and Washington.“For us, it’s just about playing good baseball,” Roberts said.“They are men of high character. They are going to do their best to win a baseball game. We will do the same thing. You sign up to put this uniform on Garrett Richards Jersey , your goal is to win every game, regardless of the situation.Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (7-5, 2.74) is to face Arizona right-hander Matt Koch (5-5, 4.26).Buehler, arguably, has been the ace of the staff for the last two months, since limiting Milwaukee to one run while striking out seven in seven innings on July 31 at Dodger Stadium. He suffered the loss in that game but has lost only one since.He is 3-2 with a 1.58 ERA in his last 10 starts, with 79 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings. Buehler tied his career high with nine strikeouts in an 8-0 victory in St. Louis on Sept. 14 and set his career high with 12 in his last outing Wednesday against Colorado, although he did not get a decision while giving two unearned runs in a 5-2 victory.Buehler, a first-round pick in the 2015, made eight relief appearances as a rookie September call-up last year. He made his first career start April 21 this season and joined the rotation for good after the All-Star break.“One part of it is, he’s more comfortable being here a lot of the year and getting in a routine and not going up and down, not being in the ‘pen,” manager Dave Roberts said when talking about the strides Buehler has made this year. “Learning hitters. Having the rapport with his teammates.“As far as the stuff, like many pitchers, when his fastball command is on, he’s pretty much unhittable. And a lot of this year http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , that’s what we’ve had. Now the curve ball, the slider, the change off of it has been lethal. It’s two variables, comfort level and consistency and the pitch execution.”Buehler throws his 96-mph fastball about 60 percent of the time and works off that.Koch is making his second spot start in place of Clay Bucholz, who was shut down for the rest of the season when he felt elbow pain while warming up for a scheduled start at Colorado on Sept. 13. Koch replaced him on very short notice that day and gave up four runs in three innings but followed that with four innings of scoreless relief in a loss to the Cubs on Sept. 18.Koch made 12 starts early-season starts after first Taijuan Walker and then Robbie Ray went out with injuries and the Diamondbacks were 7-5 in that stretch, but he lost his spot in the rotation when Ray returned, and Buchholz pitched well. He has faced the Dodgers once this season, giving up three runs (two earned) in five innings in a no-decision in Arizona’s 4-3 victory. ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The only thing Shohei Ohtani couldn’t do Wednesday night was pitch.Ohtani homered twice during a huge night at the plate after getting bad news about his injured elbow, and the Los Angeles Angels cruised to a 9-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.Perhaps headed for Tommy John surgery, the two-way rookie sensation went 4 for 4 with three RBIs, four runs and a stolen base to power the Angels. About two hours before the game, the team announced Ohtani has new damage in his right elbow and ligament-replacement surgery has been recommended.“Obviously, disappointment in the news today,” manager Mike Scioscia said.Scioscia wasn’t surprised that Ohtani could keep his composure, though.“He’s mentally tough in any situation he’s ever in,” the manager added. “Tonight Huston Street Jersey , he was a hitter. He didn’t think about what the future is and what the decision is he’s got to make for his elbow. He was out there playing baseball and hitting the ball.”Ohtani didn’t speak with reporters after the announcement about his injury — or following the game.“There’s more questions out there right now than answers. We’ll take it one step at a time,” Scioscia said before the game. “There’s a lot of consulting that Shohei will do with doctors and just see what the best course of action is, and we’ll see where we are.”The club said the Japanese star had an MRI earlier in the day that revealed the problem in his ulnar collateral ligament.Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Ohtani hasn’t formally decided to have Tommy John surgery. Eppler and Ohtani plan to have an in-depth conversation about his future Monday after the Angels return from their road trip.“We committed to each other in this process, and we will get through it together as a team,” Eppler said. “But I do feel disappointment for the people in that clubhouse, and primarily Shohei.”The latest development has been dreaded by the Angels and Ohtani’s many fans since he was diagnosed with a sprained UCL following a start June 6. After receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection and an injection of stem cells, he was hitting again in early July, and returned to the mound with his start Sunday at Houston.Ohtani lasted only 2 1/3 innings in that outing against the Astros, and he had a drastic drop in velocity during the game. He had been scheduled to throw a light bullpen Wednesday, but never did after reporting his elbow was sore. The medical staff then decided he should get the new MRI in Texas.Although Ohtani is enjoying success as the Angels’ designated hitter, Eppler flatly declared that the Angels still see Ohtani as a two-way player, however long they must wait for his pitching career to resume.Last fall, Ohtani was diagnosed with a sprained elbow ligament while in Japan. Major League Baseball teams were advised of his condition before they could bid on his rights.The Angels paid the $20 million posting fee to Ohtani’s previous club, the Nippon Ham Fighters. Ohtani, who is under the Angels’ contractual control for six years, signed a minor league deal and got $2,315 http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey ,000 in international bonus money from the Angels.In 10 starts on the mound, the right-hander was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA this season. He struck out 63 with 22 walks in 51 2/3 innings.Ohtani’s homers on Wednesday were both towering drives pulled into the right-field seats against right-handed relievers Austin Bibens-Dirkx and Eddie Butler. With his second two-homer game, Ohtani tied Kenji Johjima’s 2006 major league record of 18 homers in a season by a Japanese rookie.Andrelton Simmons also homered for the Angels and drove in three runs.Los Angeles rookie Jaime Barria (10-8) beat Texas for the third time and 45-year-old Bartolo Colon (7-12) for the second. Barria has not beaten any other team more than once but has a 0.86 ERA against the Rangers in 21 innings over four starts.Barria allowed two hits and three walks while striking out five in five innings.TRAINER’S ROOMAngels: If not for the injury announcement about Ohtani, it would have been bigger news that CF Mike Trout wasn’t in the lineup a night after being hit on his right leg by a pitch. “His calf is tight,” Scioscia said. “I don’t think we need to push it tonight. We’ll give him (Wednesday) and (Thursday) to recover, and he’ll be ready to play.”Rangers: OF Willie Calhoun was not available because of what manager Jeff Banister called “a little bit of a chest cold.”BELTRE’S BLASTAdrian Beltre hit a two-run shot for Texas, the 472nd homer of his career, in the sixth inning against Jim Johnson. Three of Beltre’s 10 homers this season have come in the last five games.UP NEXTAngels: Resume their road trip Friday in Chicago. RHP Felix Pena (1-4, 4.19 ERA) will pitch for Los Angeles, and LHP Carlos Rodon (6-4, 2.89) for the White Sox.Rangers: Play on Friday at Oakland, with RHP Yovani Gallardo (8-3, 5.97 ERA) opposing RHP Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.19) of the A’s. Sixteen of Texas’ final 22 games will be on the road.