Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers have started the second half of their 2022 season with a mega-sweep of the rival Giants after another late win in the 7-4 victory today. They have now won eight games in a row and 19 of their last 21. What the hell.
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No matter what happens, a Dodgers and Giants game must be close, so of course this one was as well. Yet things started off like it might be a blowout, as Alex Cobb gave up back-to-back-to-back singles to Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Freddie Freeman for a 1-0 lead.
With the runners cornered, back-to-back strikeouts gave Cobb a way out, and despite a walk to load the bases, he got out of it without further damage.
Eventually the Giants came back against Clayton Kershaw, as after a clean 1st he had to wiggle out of trouble in the 2nd after a double, walk, and error on Trea. By contrast the 3rd didn’t seem like a big deal as he got the first two outs, but walk, a double, and then a Marco Estrada single drove in two for a 2-1 lead to the Giants.
After a quiet 2nd the bats of the Dodgers came back in the 3rd with a two-out attack of their own. A Jake Lamb double started the rally, which was followed by a Gavin Lux single to tie the game, a Max Muncy double to take the lead, and a Trayce Thompson single for a 4-2 score.
Cobb wasn’t great, but he made it through 5.2 innings without giving up another run.
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Despite looking shaky early on, Kershaw seemed to right the ship in the 4th with a clean frame, but after getting an out in the 5th, he gave up a double and a homer to Darin Ruf that tied the game at 4-4.
That was the end of his day, marking one of his worst outings of the year: 4.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 94 Pitches.
Yency Almonte took over in the 5th and got back-to-back strikeouts. The struggling Phil Bickford followed and pleasantly surprised with a 1-2-3 frame that included a strikeout.
The 7th belonged to Evan Phillips, who gave up a single and a stolen base but stranded the runner at second through some nice work to keep the game tied.
That was enough time bought for the bats to get going. After the Giants pen got an out to close the 6th, they melted down in the 7th, as a one-out Freddie double was followed by a Lamb double for the lead. That was promptly followed by a Lux single to make it 6-4 in the 7th.
But they weren’t done there as Trayce came up big against, smashing a riser the other way for a double to score another run and make it 7-4.
That was it for the offense but it was enough.
To close the game out, Dave Roberts went with Alex Vesia in the 8th, and he responded with a dominant frame that included two strikeouts. Giving way to Craig Kimbrel for the save in the 9th, he allowed just a bloop single in a scoreless inning to slam the door.
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The Dodgers are now 64-30 on the year, a 110-win pace, and are temporarily 11 games up on the Padres.
Los Angeles will now welcome the Nationals and future Dodger Juan Soto tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with Tony Gonsolin facing Paolo Espino.
