Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a period of uncertainty, hopefully things are starting to turn a bit for the Dodgers as they’ve now won three games in a row after defeating the Astros 3-2 to start their series tonight.
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The bats jumped on Astros rookie J.P. France, starting with the first batter of the game, as Mookie Betts made his 18th deposit of the year for a sudden 1-0 advantage.
Mookie leading it off with a bang. pic.twitter.com/jbV6HMKcx1
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 24, 2023
They scratched another across the plate in the 2nd as well, loading the bases with one out behind singles from James Outman and Miguel Rojas, and a walk by Michael Busch. Mookie then tried to repeat his feat, but missed and hit a deep fly ball for a sacrifice fly.
2-0.
Michael Busch doubles to get the lead back, but only one run as Miguel Rojas is cut down. pic.twitter.com/3NyiS20B0K
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 24, 2023
Meanwhile, Emmet Sheehan seemed to be cruising yet again. After a clean 1st, he walked a batter in the 2nd but that was erased by a double play, and he finally allowed his first hit on an infield single in the 3rd. But that was it … until Mauricio Dubon and Kyle Tucker went back-to-back off him to start the 4th. Both pitches were mistakes, as he hung a 1-2 slider to Dubon and elevated an 0-1 changeup to Tucker, and that resulted in a tie game.
The Dodgers came right back against France in the bottom of the 4th, however. Following a clean 3rd, it was the bottom of the order that did damage again, as Outman singled and stole second, Rojas walked, and Busch came through with a double down the line in left for a 3-2 lead. While Outman scored, a quality relay on a questionable send led to Rojas being out easily at the plate.
Michael Busch doubles to get the lead back, but only one run as Miguel Rojas is cut down. pic.twitter.com/3NyiS20B0K
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 24, 2023
Thankfully, Sheehan wasn’t too rattled by the pair of homers, setting the side down in order in both the 5th and 6th before the end of his night.
Impressive start to his career under odd circumstances when the Dodgers needed it: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 87 Pitches.
Well, he can block out any distractions at least. https://t.co/J1TBUIkMZl
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 24, 2023
Unfortunately, the Dodgers lineup wasn’t doing much to add on. France ended his outing with scoreless frames in the 5th and 6th, and worked around a pair of two-out singles in the latter frame. They didn’t fare much better against the pen in the 7th and 8th either, getting just a single in those two innings and leaving the lead at one.
For the Dodgers pen, it was Michael Grove in a newish role, and he stepped up with two scoreless on just 19 pitches. He got a clean 7th that included a strikeout, and then faced the minimum in the 8th despite issuing a walk thanks to a double play.
Grove's two scoreless innings on just 19 pitches. pic.twitter.com/SVydzhyA6h
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 24, 2023
With Evan Phillips getting rest, according to Dave Roberts, it was Brusdar Graterol for the save. Fortunately, there was no drama, as he got the heart of the order on three groundouts and just seven pitches.
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David Peralta is excite.
When you pass a used car lot pic.twitter.com/TLYdvuDrB0
— Bryan Kephart (@thundercrat) June 24, 2023
Kirsten Watson is interrupted by a wild Tony Gonsolin.
lol pic.twitter.com/9njTkZOL5a
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) June 24, 2023
— Bryan Kephart (@thundercrat) June 24, 2023
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Diamondbacks | 46-31 |
| Giants | 43-33 (2.5 GB) |
| Dodgers | 42-33 (3.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The two teams will do it again tomorrow on FOX at 1:15 PM HT/4:15 PM PT/7:15 PM ET. It’ll be Bobby Miller (2.83 ERA/3.01 xERA/4.13 DRA) on the bump looking to bounceback from his last outing against Ronel Blanco (4.66/5.85/5.27).
