Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers and White Sox played a dramatic rubber match to their series, with the Dodgers mounting a comeback to tie the game, and eventually coming out of it with a 5-4 win in extra innings.
The much-beleaguered pen got six scoreless frames today and the Dodgers ended their three series losing streak.
======
Michael Grove is getting his chance to stick in the rotation, and while his stuff looks better, the results have been … less than ideal.
Tonight, he was generally fine. He struck out seven and walked just one in five innings, giving up just three singles besides the homers, and never facing a runner in scoring position. The problem? Well, the problem was four solo homers, back-to-back shots from Luis Robert Jr. and Eloy Jimenez in the 1st and back-to-back bombs from Jake Burger and Andrew Vaughn in the 4th.
BACK-TO-BACK! pic.twitter.com/oJdaVMIxGT
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 16, 2023
BACK-TO-BACK! AGAIN! ? pic.twitter.com/MoUMx206ck
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 16, 2023
That made it 4-0 and Grove has continued to provide uneven results: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 92 Pitches.
——
On the other side was Dylan Cease, who himself kept the Dodgers off the board. In fact, the first runner in scoring position they got came in the 5th after a walk and a two-out single, but it amounted to nothing. In the 6th, a pair of singles sandwiched a strikeout, and Cease’s night was done. Weirdly, Cease almost struck out too many (10) guys, and his pitch count was at 102.
That proved important because Reynaldo Lopez entered, and while he got the second out to start, he then surrendered a single to James Outman that loaded the bases. This rally was basically going to be the game, and thankfully Chris Taylor made it pay off, smashing a fastball to left for a no-doubter to tie things up at 4-4. The atmosphere was electric as he rounded the bases for his 11th homer of the year.
Grand slam, tie game just like that. pic.twitter.com/RIDfjcPa6L
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 16, 2023
I love CT3's mini bat flip into the flex/fist pump ? pic.twitter.com/n7stMlFbVo
— Josh Thomas (@jokeylocomotive) June 16, 2023
Of course, it was a pen game at that point, and Shelby Miller had got an eight-pitch 6th inning. That led Dave Roberts to roll with a reliever for a second inning again, and he was greeted with a lead-off double by Elvis Andrus in the 7th. Things looked a bit bleak, but after Miller bounced back with a strikeout, he then got help from Miguel Vargas at second to save a single and get the second out.
That did advance Andrus to third, and after a walk the runners were cornered, but with Jimenez up it was Will Smith the bailed out Miller on a stolen base attempt, as he faked the throw to second and caught Andrus napping at third. CT3 was the one who eventually ran him down to cap his great inning off.
Indeed a run saved thanks to Will Smith and Chris Taylor. pic.twitter.com/ymxmBMeMTF
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 16, 2023
The 8th belonged to Yency Almonte, who got a 12-pitch frame as he set the White Sox down in order. Evan Phillips then entered in the 9th to try and keep the game tied, and he did just that with a pair of strikeouts in his 1-2-3 inning that took just 10 pitches.
The other pen was keeping the offense quiet as well, however. They gave up just a walk in the 7th and had a clean 8th, but did face a pair of runners with just one out in the 9th before escaping a walk-off fate.
That sent the game to extras.
In a move that reeked of ‘desperate times call for desperate measures’, Phillips was back out there in the 10th. He got a grounder to first that moved the Manfred Runner to third, issued a walk, and then bounced back with a strikeout to put him on the verge of escape. After a stolen base put a pair in scoring position, he ended up getting his fourth strikeout of his outing to give the Dodgers another walk-off chance.
Casual Evan Phillips W. pic.twitter.com/DTg4CPlXTD
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 16, 2023
That quest started with a Jonny Deluca pitch-hit comebacker that did enough to advance the Manfred Runner to third, but Vargas popped foul for the second out. Pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez was then intentionally walked, and eventually walked to second on defensive indifference, and the earlier hero of the game in CT3 struck out on three pitches.
The 11th was given to Caleb Ferguson, who started with a strikeout, got a fly out, and induced a groundout to escape without damage. Easy for once.
It was then Garrett Crochet for the White Sox, who started in more trouble when Grandal allowed a predictable passed ball that allowed the Manfred Runner (CT3) to advance. Miguel Rojas eventually walked on what was actually a foul tip for a second strike, and Mookie Betts followed by working a 12-pitch walk to load them up. Freddie Freeman then stepped up to the plate and got ahead 3-1 before lifting a walk-off single for the 5-4 win.
Freddie Freeman walks it off. Feels good, man. pic.twitter.com/xrveO6HvDX
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 16, 2023
——
Miguel Rojas is a shortstop.
No glove needed for Miguel Rojas. pic.twitter.com/C2DhFd8HUB
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 16, 2023
======
| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Diamondbacks | 41-28 |
| Dodgers | 39-30 (2 GB) |
| Giants | 36-32 (4.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The Dodgers will welcome the rival Giants to the park tomorrow at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET, and it seems like both teams will be running pen games.
