Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
On getaway day, the Dodgers wasted chances early, but Clayton Kershaw bought the bats enough time and they exploded later behind big blows from Justin Turner and Max Muncy in a 7-3 win over the Giants for a series win. All in all, a quality 4-2 homestand.
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The primary thing is that Clayton Kershaw looks healthy for the playoffs, and today’s outing certainly seemed to reinforce that he is. Through four innings, he allowed just one regular single and one infield single, seemingly rolling against the rivals.
The 5th provided immediate issues with a single and the suddenly hot David Villar homering in the heat for a 2-0 lead to the Giants. However, that would be all Kershaw allowed on the day, as the Dodgers continued playing conservative with his pitch count.
6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K, 86 Pitches
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On the other side, Alex Cobb seemed to be struggling a bit but the Dodgers couldn’t get to him early.
In the 2nd, JT led off with a single, Trayce Thompson followed with a double, and Joey Gallo got hit on the elbow (he later had to exit, dammit) to load the bases with nobody out. The Dodgers proceeded groundout, strikeout, and flyout to end the threat. A mini-rally in the 3rd behind a walk and a single with one out ended the same, and a two-out single and walk in the 4th also amounted to nothing.
Seemed like it might be one of those days, but after a Freddie Freeman single and a Muncy bunt single (!) against the shift started the 5th, Justin finally cashed in a chance by smashing a three-run shot for a 3-2 lead, his 11th on the year.
Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last long, as Justin Bruihl started the 7th and gave up a game-tying homer to the second batter he faced. He also got two outs but later gave up a single, and Evan Phillips had to be summoned. He walked a batter to create a Giants chance, but escaped without further damage. Phillips also started the 8th and gave up a walk and single in the inning but didn’t face a RISP thanks to a double play.
While the Giants had a pen game yesterday, the Dodgers couldn’t get much going against their tired arms. They managed just a couple walks and a single in the first eight outs against them. However, in Zack Littell‘s second inning of work, the Dodgers were able to rally. An Austin Barnes infield single was eventually cashed in by a Trea Turner double over Joc Pederson‘s head for a 4-3 lead.
After a Freeman walk, who reached for the fourth time, Muncy stepped up and hit his third home run of the series with a three-run shot to make it 7-3. It was his 19th of the year.
Alex Vesia closed things out in the 9th, issuing a lead-off walk but bouncing back with back-to-back strikeouts and a fly out to end it.
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Everything is dick-themed this year, even Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser can’t resist.
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Dodgers improve to 94-42 overall, which is a 112-win pace, and are 49-18 at home.
| TEAM | CHASE | GAMES |
|---|---|---|
| Astros | MLB | 7* Up |
| Mets | NL | 8.5 Up |
| Padres | NL West | 19.5* Up |
*Play later today.
After an off day, the Dodgers will now head out on the road to play the Padres starting at 3:40 PM HT/6:40 PM PT/9:40 PM ET with Dustin May looking for a better outing against the Padres this time against Mike Clevinger.
