Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers have won four in a row after starting the series off against the Phillies with a dominant 13-4 win, in which they only didn’t score in only one inning.
Fun.
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The Dodgers offense showed their potential tonight, with their unfortunate victim being Taijuan Walker. Things started out relatively quietly, with just Will Smith‘s 4th homer of the year in the 1st for an early lead.
But things escalated quickly in the 2nd, as back-to-back walks to start the frame to James Outman and Miguel Vargas was followed by a three-run shot from David Peralta, his 2nd of the year to make it 4-0.
All aboard! 🚂 pic.twitter.com/c0MHBjhBGu
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 2, 2023
The scoring and the homers continued in the 3rd, as Jason Heyward decided to skip relying on any luck for all his hard contact by simply hitting the ball over the wall. The solo shot was his 4th of the year and made it 5-0.
The Dodgers then tacked on three more runs in the 4th after back-to-back singles from Michael Busch and Mookie Betts had both of them in scoring position after an error. That was cashed in by Freddie Freeman singling and advancing to second on the throw, which was subsequently taken advantage of by a Smith single. That left a solid eight-spot on the board.
As all this was going on, Tony Gonsolin was on the other side and cruising for the most part. He had a clean 1st and then allowed just singles in the 2nd and 3rd, but a Kyle Schwarber solo shot ended his shutout in the 4th. He seemed like he might get through the 5th unscathed as well, recording the first two outs of the frame to start, but then loaded the bases behind a pair of walks and a single.
That was the end of his night as Gonsolin looked to build up: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 80 Pitches.
Those are three runs charged to him instead of one because Phil Bickford entered in relief and allowed two to score on a single by Nick Castellanos. Though after an error by Peralta he did avoid potential disaster with a strikeout. 8-3.
No matter, as the Dodgers offense didn’t relent. They scored again in the 5th after a two-out walk by Peralta was followed by a Busch single and then a Betts double to push the lead to 9-3.
Bickford continued in the 6th and unfortunately continued to struggle, allowing a lead-off triple and then an Alec Bohm single to make it a five-run lead yet again at 9-4.
Nevertheless, after the Dodgers finally had a scoreless inning in the 6th, Craig Kimbrel looked to repeat the feat in the 7th with two outs to start. However, a Busch walk and steal was followed by a Mookie homer to push the lead to 11-4. A Freeman double wasn’t cashed in, but did knock Kimbrel out of the game. Good to know it wasn’t the Dodgers that made him suck.
The Dodgers then padded further in the 8th, as they loaded the bases behind a Max Muncy single and back-to-back walks from Heyward and Outman. A Vargas groundout plated a run, and then so did a Peralta single to make it 13-4.
For the Dodgers pen, Victor Gonzalez got a clean 7th and then one out in the 8th, but was removed after allowing a single. Shelby Miller relieved him and got the last two outs of the frame, then he allowed just a walk in the 9th to close the game out.
Pleasant.
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Phillies broadcast seemed to be having fun.
Though it was the Dodgers players having the fun on the other side.
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Julio Urias against Matt Strahm tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET.
