Dodgers 15, Rangers 2: Bats slug 5 homers and totals 14 hits in blowout victory

Chad Moriyama 06/11/2024 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

The six-game homestand got off to a quick start for the Dodgers, who jumped on the Rangers for an early lead and absolutely piled on with a barrage of dingers, all in support of James Paxton, who bounced back decently from a rough stretch. The Dodgers homered five times and compiled 14 hits and eight walks (two HBP) in a 15-2 victory.

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Before getting to the fireworks, let’s start with Paxton, who is coming off a rough three-start stretch. Thankfully, he resumed his solid but unspectacular type of performance today, allowing just a run in the 3rd on a walk, single, and sac fly but never really facing any other scoring threat in his six frames.

Not overwhelming, but eating those innings for the rotation: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K, 87 Pitches.

Alright, onto the exciting stuff!

The Dodgers offense got started early, as Shohei Ohtani walked (and stole second), Freddie Freeman singled in a way that left Ohtani frozen at second, and then Will Smith followed with an odd homer (10th) off the top of the wall and then off the glove of Wyatt Langford for a three-run shot in the 1st.

After a quiet couple innings, the Dodgers blew things open a bit in the 4th. A bizarre Gavin Lux single off the bag was followed by an Andy Pages knock to left, and then Jason Heyward was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With two outs, Mookie Betts unloaded them with a double to left that pushed the lead to 6-1.

They modestly added on in the 5th behind back-to-back singles from Freddie and Will (who got thrown out at second trying to stretch it), then a walk from Teoscar Hernandez, and another single to make it 7-1, this time from Lux.

The 6th is where things went kinda nuts.

Miguel Rojas popped out to start, but Mookie drew a walk, then Shohei absolutely launched his 16th homer of the year. As that was being celebrated, Freddie hit an oppo taco for his ninth of the year to make it 10-1.

Will then merely singled and Teoscar followed by bombing a ball for his 17th of the year. After a sharp lineout by Lux, Pages lined a single, and then Heyward unloaded on a ball to right for his third of the year to cap a seven-run inning and make it 14-1. Miggy was the only one who didn’t get in on the fun, as he made two outs in the inning to end the frame. Sucks to be him.

Look what they did to Miguel Vargas, man.

In relief of Paxton, Michael Grove got the 7th, giving up a solo shot to Ezequiel Duran to make it 14-2.

But the Dodgers got it back, as with one out Ohtani got clipped on the foot, Enrique Hernandez (in for Freddie) walked, and Dills also walked to load things up in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Andrew Knizner then came in to pitch and limited Vargas to just a sacrifice fly before getting the final out to settle things at 15-2. Knizner also continued in the 8th and finished the Dodgers off with a 1-2-3 frame, so he was maybe their most effective pitcher.

For the Dodgers it was Anthony Banda in the 8th, who worked around a single, and then Evan Phillips finished things off in the 9th with a clean 1-2-3 frame.

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NL WESTRECORD
Dodgers42-26
Padres36-35 (7.5 GB)

*Either still playing or will play later.

A 100-win pace.

Same two teams, same location, same time tomorrow with Walker Buehler facing who I thought was starting for the Rangers today in Jon Gray at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET.

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