LOS ANGELES — In such a fragile state these days, the Dodgers are never more than a cluster of batters away from near disaster.

On the way to a much-needed victory, the Dodgers were reminded again in the eighth inning Sunday that willing themselves down the stretch and into a deep playoff run will take more than just caps on heads and gloves on hands.

Left-hander Tanner Scott ran into a buzzsaw with two outs in the eighth inning while trying to protect a three-run lead when Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte singled. Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll followed with a game-tying three-run home run to left field.

The Dodgers salvaged the day on Will Smith’s pinch-hit game-ending home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that avoided a total meltdown.

Smith’s game-winning blast came against A

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