Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The streaky Dodgers (56-35) came through in the rubber game of the finale series of the first half with a 7-4 walk-off win against the Diamondbacks (26-66). The offense exploded with 22 runs on 21 hits on Saturday for the most runs scored at Dodger Stadium, but Sunday’s offense was a late bloomer that scored six runs in the final two frames.
All-Star Max Muncy came through with a walk-off three-run blast in the bottom of the 9th to send the Dodgers into the second half on a winning note.
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Nine home runs in the last 24 hours. Mookie Betts blasted a solo home run to center to say hello to Merrill Kelly. That’s Mookie’s fifth leadoff homer this season.
It was an important start for Tony Gonsolin in the final game of the first half. With the trade deadline approaching, the Dodgers look to solidify their starting rotation. They hope Gonsolin will be one of those guys who can help them in a starting role down the stretch.
On the 11th pitch, Josh Reddick managed to win the battle vs. Gonsolin with a leadoff single in the top of the 2nd amidst a chorus of cheater chants. Justin Turner‘s fielding error gave the Snakes another opportunity with runners at first and second and nobody out. The Dodgers’ defense has been really stinky of late. With that Turner miscue, they’ve committed 14 errors in their last 10 games. The D-backs failed to score, but the Dodgers’ sloppy play made it harder on themselves.
Case in point, Max Muncy lost a ball in the sun for the third out in the third, but Gonsolin got into a rhythm with three strikeouts in the frame.
The D-backs couldn’t figure out Gonsolin’s split change once he got it going. Orel Hershiser described Gonsolin’s tendency to pitch out of traffic jams. He said it’s like “pitching on the 405 with no accidents.” While a solo shot by Stephen Vogt with two outs in the 4th tied the game at one apiece, The Cat Man didn’t allow more than one run in each of his first six games (five starts). The sole run was #onbrand. He allowed one run on four hits, one walk and six strikeouts on 83 pitches (55 strikes).
Darien Núñez took over for Gonsolin in the 5th. A ground-rule double by Rojas with one gave the D-backs another shot with RISP. Arizona cashed in this time. Josh VanMeter‘s RBI single gave the D-backs a 2-1 lead. Alex Vesia was the next arm out of the Dodgers’ bullpen. He was feeling himself, and his fastball touched 96-mph on the outside edge to strike out David Peralta in a perfect 6th.
On the other side, Merrill Kelly was shutting down the Dodgers’ offense. He retired 11 of the 13 Dodgers’ batters after the Betts leadoff home run. Betts was responsible for both the Dodgers’ base hits through the first four innings. AJ Pollock continued his hot hitting with a one out double to right field in the home half of the 5th. Kelly got Gavin Lux with a good changeup, which brought up pinch-hitter Matt Beaty with a chance to tie it, but Beaty chopped one to first for the third out. The Dodgers got the tying run in scoring position again in the bottom of the 6th with a Muncy double. Kelly left the game with right leg cramping. Brett de Geus came in for the D-backs and got the job done, retiring Turner and Cody Bellinger.
Scott Alexander came in next, well-rested from a day off. He allowed three base hits to left-handed hitters, a rare and frustrating outcome for the Dodgers and Alexander. A two-run shot extended the D-backs’ lead to 4-1. Roberts intentionally walked Escobar and brought in Phil Bickford to face Christian Walker with two on and two outs. Walker grounded into a force out, but damage was done.
After Blake Treinen pitched a 1-2-3 8th, the Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the inning against Arizona reliever Noe Ramirez. Zach McKinstry started the late-inning rally with a walk. Betts and Muncy followed with a single each, moving the runners from station to station. The D-backs literally dropped the ball on a Turner fly when Reddick couldn’t make the catch (ruled a hit).
McKinstry scored, making it 4-2. Bellinger struck out on a changeup in the dirt for the first out of the inning, but Smith got nipped with a pitch inside, and the Dodgers got another gift run.
Taylor tied it up 4-4 with a RBI single on a Ramirez changeup. Not sure why Turner didn’t score from third there after Reddick blundered again. Dino Ebel held him, I guess.
Kenley Jansen pitched a scoreless 9th to preserve the tie and set up the walk-off win. For Arizona it was up to J.B. Bukauskas with the game on the line. No pressure, kid. Pujols started off the inning with a single up the middle. Zach Reks came in to pinch-run for Pujols. McKinstry got a bunt down to move the winning run into scoring position. The D-backs walked Mookie intentionally to bring up Muncy.
Muncy switched things up with an epic bat flip on an epic walk-off dong. Reddick didn’t even move.
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The MLB Draft started tonight. The Dodgers pick 29th in the first round (at about 7 PM PST). Dustin will update the board as players get drafted. Also, check back for a write-up of the Dodgers’ 1st-round pick.
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The Dodgers open the second half in Colorado when they take on the Rockies (39-51) on Friday at 5:40 PM. Julio Urias starts the series opener, Walker Buehler starts Saturday, and David Price starts the third or fourth game after the break.
