Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
It’s hard to even pretend that the results of these games matter at this point with two playoff locks with nothing to play for basically just scrimmaging to stay sharp and experimenting with their playoff roles.
So, uh, I won’t bother trying to sell anybody on caring about the result. The Dodgers beat the A’s 5-1 tonight but the main thing is Walker Buehler looked fine after coming back from his blister.
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As mentioned, this game lives and dies with Buehler, who started and got four scoreless frames. He threw 65 pitches, striking out six and allowing a single and a walk. The results were there and he also passed the eye test, which hopefully sets him up nicely for a playoff start.
On offense, the Dodgers struck early in the 1st with a Mookie Betts infield single and a Justin Turner infield single setting the table for a Will Smith single to make it a 1-0 game.
In the 3rd, Corey Seager doubled the lead by staying hot with a oppo taco.
The big inning ended up being the 6th thanks to a Smith double, Cody Bellinger double, and AJ Pollock walk to load the bases, then Enrique Hernandez singling to drive in a run. Chris Taylor then drew a walk to force another run in, and with one out, Seager hit a sac fly to the track to complete the scoring at 5-2.
In relief of Buehler, Dylan Floro, Pedro Baez, and Blake Treinen got an inning each off scoreless ball. However, Jake McGee faltered a bit by giving up a solo shot in his frame. Still, it wasn’t a problem as Kenley Jansen got the 9th, tasked with protecting a four-run lead and doing so in 1-2-3 fashion with two strikeouts.
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40-17 with the Angels left. Three games until hell.
