PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers put up a strong performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning 10-9 at Chase Field on Friday in the series opener.

Arizona nearly pulled off a heroic comeback with four runs in the ninth inning from Anthony Banda, two from a single by Jake McCarthy and a couple more from a home run by Eugenio Suarez. But five Dodgers runs from the Diamondbacks’ bullpen proved deadly.

“We had some really good moments on offense,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I think it was 13 hits, four walks, three hit-by-pitches and that was a big number. It was unfortunate that we couldn’t stop them from a pitching standpoint. We’ve got to pitch better. … We’ve got to land pitches. We’ve got to control the fastball and use it to set up other pitches.”

The match between the two best clubs in the National League West was an immediate success: after three long innings the score was tied: 5-5.

As the game turned into a battle of the bullpens, the Dodgers (81-54) took a 6-5 lead on a wild pitch by Joe Mantiply in the sixth inning and extended their lead with a three-run home run by Will Smith off Paul Sewald in the seventh inning.

Sewald found himself in his highest-leverage situation since losing the closer role. With Justin Martinez and Ryan Thompson having pitched back-to-back games, the bullpen was a bit stressed. Sewald came in with two runners on and one out, and Enrique Hernandez and Smith were up next. After Hernandez flew out, Sewald missed inside with a fastball and Smith spun on it.

Shohei Ohtani hit an opposite-field solo homer off Sewald in the eighth inning, becoming the first player ever to have 43 home runs and 43 steals in a season.

“We were trying to stay away from Martinez, and Thompson was under it,” Lovullo said. “I know I had 50-50 balls, I can’t run away from everybody in the bullpen. I’m going to wear our guys down. … We got hit in some really big situations.”

Kevin Ginkel (2.55 ERA) had warmed up before Sewald came in, but Ginkel didn’t pitch until the ninth inning when the score was lopsided. Lovullo said he would have started Ginkel and AJ Puk if the D-backs were ahead in that situation.

Lovullo has openly stated that he would like Sewald to resume the closer role, but the veteran has allowed runs in each of his last three appearances.

Diamondbacks cause early chaos

The Diamondbacks (76-59) rallied from two multi-run deficits in the first three innings.

Los Angeles jumped to a 2-0 lead on a Freddie Freeman homer by starter Zac Gallen, but Arizona scored a pair of runs to tie the score. The D-backs left some meat on the bone, as Josh Bell — who had an RBI single — was doubled from second base on a Suarez sacrifice fly.

Gallen struggled mightily to score outs in the second inning as the first four batters reached base. LA scored three more runs, but then Gallen settled in with three scoreless innings. He retired his last eight hitters with five strikeouts to get through five frames.

“Getting behind, letting the bottom lines play, wasting pitches, running up my pitch count,” Gallen said. “I saw the guys on offense fighting. I had to do my part to keep us in it. … It’s kind of a weird one. Not my favorite play.”

The Diamondbacks answered LA’s second-inning rally with a Corbin Carroll moonshot home run off Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw left the game with soreness in his left big toe after the Carroll home run.

Arizona tied the score in the third inning on an RBI single by Jose Herrera with two outs by Joe Kelly.

The Dodgers’ bullpen did its job of holding onto the lead in the final minutes, though such a short start from Kershaw could have an impact in this series. Both teams could add an arm Sunday when their rosters expand to 28.

The Diamondbacks’ offense finished with 13 knocks, more than the Dodgers (10), though Arizona hit nine balls at least 98 mph for outs.

“We fought all day,” Suarez said. “As I always say, we never give up. We showed them that we are here to fight you. They don’t have it easy, they don’t have an easy game.”

Chase Field Package for Diamondbacks-Dodgers

The announced attendance for Friday’s match was 46,606. The stadium is expected to be sold out on Saturday.

“That was special,” Bell said. “Coming from Miami, it was definitely a different atmosphere for me. I know Kevin (Newman) and I looked up, I can’t remember what the pitching change was, just looking up and thinking, ‘Wow, this feels like a postseason game.'”

Diamondbacks-Dodgers next game

Los Angeles evened the season series at 5-5 and extended its lead in the NL West to five games. The San Diego Padres won Friday and are now virtually tied with Arizona.

The series at Chase Field continues Saturday at 5:10 p.m. Merrill Kelly (3.98 ERA) gets the ball for Arizona, while Los Angeles hands the ball to Gavin Stone (3.33 ERA).

Watch the game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app.

Follow @alexjweiner