PHOENIX — — Freddie Freeman hit two home runs and had five RBI, Shohei Ohtani stole three bases and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-6 on Monday.

Teoscar Hernández went 5 for 5 to help Los Angeles win three of four games in a crucial series between NL West rivals. The Dodgers — who have won 17 of their last 23 — now hold a six-game lead over the D-backs with 24 to play. Arizona and San Diego are battling for second place.

Ohtani had two hits and two walks while flashing his speed. He stole second and third on back-to-back pitches in the seventh inning, bringing his season total to a career-high 46. Freeman drove in Ohtani with a sacrifice fly, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4-1.

The Japanese superstar is on track for 50 stolen bases and 50 home runs this season. He currently has 44 home runs.

Hernández doubled and tripled as part of his five-hit day. Will Smith had a two-run single in the seventh to make it 6-1. Mookie Betts added a two-run double in the eighth to extend the lead to 8-3.

Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty (4-1) surrendered one run in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits, three walks and struck out seven.

Los Angeles has won four of Flaherty’s six starts since he joined the team via trade from the Detroit Tigers.

The Dodgers never trailed and took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Betts’ RBI single made it 1-0 and Freeman’s opposite-field, two-run homer made it 3-0. Chris Taylor led off the inning with a leadoff double.

Freeman hit his second home run, another two-run homer, in the eighth inning.

Arizona’s Eugenio Suárez had three hits, including a solo homer. The D-backs took a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning and had a potential tying run at the plate, but Josh Bell grounded out Anthony Banda to end the threat.

D-Backs lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (2-1) needed 92 pitches to navigate just four innings. He surrendered three runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out one. It was his shortest outing in five games this season since returning from a shoulder injury.

The D-backs’ pitching staff gave up 32 runs in the four-game series. Arizona finished with a 2-5 homestand against the Mets and Dodgers.

MAKING MOVEMENTS

The Dodgers called up RHP Michael Petersen and sent LHP Justin Wrobleski to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Wrobleski gave up 10 runs in 5 1/3 innings in Sunday’s loss.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was out of the starting lineup after being pulled from Sunday’s game with a sore left calf. Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that Gurriel is day-to-day. … 1B Christian Walker (oblique) and All-Star 2B Ketel Marte (ankle) could return to the team during the upcoming road trip. … LHP Jordan Montgomery left the game in the seventh inning after being hit in the lower right leg by a hard grounder from Hernández.

NEXT

Dodgers: Begin a two-game series at the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. The Angels will field LHP Reid Detmers (3-6, 6.14 ERA) in the opener. The Dodgers have not yet announced a starter.

Diamondbacks: Hit the road for a three-game series against San Francisco. Arizona will send RHP Ryne Nelson (9-6, 4.22 ERA) to the mound in Tuesday’s opener. The Giants have not yet announced a starter.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb