PHOENIX — Christian Walker’s bats smashed three home runs in an 11-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels at Chase Field on Thursday, but Walker was only responsible for two of them. The third was a grand slam hit by Joc Pederson, commandeering his teammate’s bat as he has been known to do.

“We had three homers with a Walker bat tonight,” Pederson said after the game, clarifying that it wasn’t the same exact bat.

“The only bats he doesn’t use are his own bats,” Walker joked postgame.

Joc Pederson used Christian Walker’s bat to hit a grand slam tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/xcf2ju29TS

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) June 14, 2024

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Pederson’s bat-napping earned him attention during his hot streak in the 2021 postseason while playing for the Atlanta Braves, when he was using the bat of former Chicago Cubs teammate Anthony Rizzo.

“He’s a bat guy, we’re always talking models, we’re always messing around with stuff. When I’m between two models I go to him and make him tell me which one has got the hits in it,” Walker added. “That was an awesome swing (on his grand slam). … That sweeper came in and he did a good job staying back and coming through for us. Things like that, that break it open change the game big time.”

JOC POP: GRAND SLAM EDITION pic.twitter.com/yBuQmJEc3D

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 14, 2024

Manager Torey Lovullo called it a complete team effort, beginning with “patient approaches” to set up Walker’s first home run, which he said set a “downhill baseball” tone.

“I felt like it was an important win. You always want to win series,” Lovullo said. “I don’t care what the Angels’ record is, I don’t care what names are missing from the lineup, they’re a very stubborn team … we took nothing for granted.”

The D-backs (33-36) managed nine hits and six walks to only five strikeouts. In addition to the nine RBIs on four hits between Pederson and Walker, Kevin Newman had two RBIs on three hits, filling in for shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, who is on a return-to-play program having played two straight games since returning.

Mickey Moniak drove in the Angels’ only run in a game they were held to 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Brandon Pfaadt’s quality start

Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt played with fire early, but he settled into a dominant outing that is welcomed by the Arizona pitching staff.

Pfaadt gave up one run on six hits in his 6.0 innings pitched, but he started with two Angels on base after a walk and a single. After Pfaadt navigated the inning with two strikeouts and a fielder’s choice, the Angels had two baserunners on at the same time only once the rest of the way.

“There were some sticky moments for him, it wasn’t perfect, so he had to grind a little bit early on but made pitches,” Lovullo said postgame.

Pfaadt’s Los Angeles counterpart, Griffin Canning, equaled him in length but wasn’t as effective, surrendering the two home runs to Walker, including the longest home run at Chase Field this season at 464 feet.

Behind Pfaadt, Arizona’s bullpen of Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson and Paul Sewald got through the final three innings without allowing a hit.

Lovullo acknowledged after the game it wasn’t a normal situation for those three to get the call with the game in hand, but he was pleased with their work.

D-backs’ homestand continues

Arizona, having won eight of its last 12 games, matches up against the Chicago White Sox (18-52) for a three-game set. Ryne Nelson (3-5, 5.96) will get the ball for the D-backs against Chris Flexen (2-5, 5.06) on Friday.

First pitch in the series opener is at 6:40 p.m. on Friday and can be heard on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 or ArizonaSports.com.

The Rose Fire destroyed multiple structures after forcing officials to close U.S. 60, which connected the town of Wickenburg to Phoenix, as dangerously hot temperatures continue in Arizona this week. 

Officials with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said the Rose Fire started on Wednesday about 4 miles south of Wickenburg on the east side of U.S. 60.

Windy, hot and dry conditions helped the fire grow from less than 10 acres to more than 160 acres, prompting evacuations for the Rio Vista Hills community.

The fire jumped the highway and continues to burn on both sides of U.S. 60. 

The fire destroyed at least six structures, and approximately 25 homes are still threatened by the Rose Fire. FOX 10 Phoenix reports that about 100 homes were initially threatened on Wednesday.

All evacuation orders have been lifted and residents were allowed to return home as of Thursday morning. 

On Thursday, officials with the Arizona Department of Forestry said overnight cooler temperatures and increasing humidity helped decrease fire activity and kept it from growing. 

The fire is still estimated to be 150 acres with no containment.

Additional resources, including hotshot crews and engines, are arriving on Thursday.

Officials said U.S. 60 remains closed in both directions outside Wickenburg as the fire continues to burn on both sides of the highway.

Downed power lines across the highway create additional dangers for vehicles.

The fire closed the quickest route to and from Phoenix on U.S. 60 near Morristown and south of Wickenburg.

Traffic is being rerouted to Interstate 10 to circumvent the closure, increasing the typically one-hour commute by about 30 minutes. 

Arizona Department of Transportation officials recommend travelers from Phoenix traveling to or from northwest Arizona and Las Vegas should use interstates 17, 40 or 10 and State Road 95 as alternate routes. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

Dangerous heat bakes Arizona

Firefighters battling the Rose Fire have faced extreme weather conditions.

Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for five states across the West, including Arizona and California.

Dangerously hot temperatures between 106 and 112 degrees are forecast across southwestern and southern Arizona. 

Phoenix and most of southern Arizona remain under an Excessive Heat Warning through Sunday night.

Wickenburg is included in the warning, and temperatures are forecast to hit 104 on Friday. 

Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham had a special delivery for his players during practice on Tuesday. With the highly anticipated release of EA Sports’ College Football 2025, Dillingham was able to get four special edition covers of the videogame.

Players were eager to obtain a copy of the highly anticipated game that is about to release. However, it came with the price of doing planks. The last four players planking would win a copy.

HA got em 🤣

Safe to say the anticipation for @EASPORTSCollege is high🔥#ForksUp /// #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/Y9SMY9CHvv

— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) June 12, 2024

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In a competitive battle, players of all positions fought tooth and nail to claim the prize. While it was gritty toward the end, the four players who ended up lasting the longest in the plank session ended up taking home a copy.

Or so they thought.

Dillingham gathered his players to cheer on the fantastic four winners as they opened up the cover package with much excitement — only to find that it was a copy of the “A Goofy Movie.”

“Gawrsh.”

While they fought gallantly in hopes of turning on their game console and playing College Football 2025 after practice, at least they’ll get a chance to kick back and relax to a nice movie.