Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After having their six-game winning streak snapped against the Mets, the Dodgers have bounced back by taking two in a row from the red-hot Orioles, with an especially impressive win tonight in coasting to a 10-3 win. That now makes it five series victories in a row.
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After an uneventful 1st against Orioles starter Tyler Wells, the 2nd started off about as well as the Dodgers could’ve dreamed. J.D. Martinez drew a walk, David Peralta followed with a single, and Jason Heyward‘s resurgent season continued with his 9th dong of the year for a 3-0 lead.
The rally didn’t end there, as Miguel Rojas walked and James Outman‘s single cornered the runners. After a pop-up, back-to-back singles from Freddie Freeman and Will Smith plated two more for a 5-0 lead, though he was able to escape without further mess.
Putting up a five-spot in Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/7e7jSUrquQ
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 18, 2023
That was a boost to emergency starter Michael Grove, who began the game with a clean frame, but like Wells, he ran into trouble in the 2nd by issuing a lead-off walk and giving up a double to Aaron Hicks for a run to make the lead 5-1.
But he then navigated through that minor jam, then allowed just a single over the next three innings, keeping a hot Orioles offense at bay. The Dodgers tried to have him get the 6th as well, but he left a jam after a double and a walk. Nevertheless, it was exactly the kind of outing the Dodgers needed as they look to buy time until the deadline and Clayton Kershaw‘s return.
5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 83 Pitches
Again, the run total remained at one because Yency Almonte came in and continued his run of competence, getting three outs in a row without allowing the Orioles baserunners to even move.
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Meanwhile, the bats were going through it a bit. Cole Irvin took over in the 3rd for Wells, again escaping further runs after a single and a walk. The Dodgers stranded a chance again in the 4th following a double, and couldn’t come through in the 5th after being gifted an error that was followed by a single.
Things got worse in the 6th, as they loaded the bases with nobody out behind Freddie getting hit by a pitch, Will singling, and Max Muncy reaching on an error that was a botched double play ball. The Dodgers proceeded to respond with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the threat.
Thank god for that big early inning, cause they are 0-for-8 with RISP otherwise.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 19, 2023
Thankfully, they finally took advantage of another golden opportunity in the 7th. Back-to-back walks to Outman and Rojas ended Irvin’s night, but his relief provided none as a double steal followed and was thrown into left for a run.
A double steal and an error finally leads the Dodgers to adding on. pic.twitter.com/TDODY5LStp
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 19, 2023
After walks to Mookie and Freddie, the bases were loaded with nobody out again, and things didn’t look good after Dills grounded into a force out at home. But Muncy followed with a grounder again and the throw was late at home to plate a run, then J.D. singled the other way to drive in another and make it 8-1. Chris Taylor later walked with two outs to force another run home and make it 9-1.
J.D. Martinez followed with a single for two more runs to make it comfortable. pic.twitter.com/176g6CBNdt
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 19, 2023
The runs continued to cross in the 7th after a Freeman double was followed by a Smith infield single and another error by the Orioles allowed Freddie to score and make it 10-1.
That was it for the Dodgers, but it was all they needed.
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Back to the Dodgers pen, it was Phil Bickford in for a clean 7th, but he was also tasked with the 8th and gave up a walk while only getting an out.
Nick Robertson entered and didn’t have a great outing. He allowed a double and a pair of singles in the inning to plate two runs (including one that was Bickford’s) to make it 10-3. Thankfully, he settled down in the 9th, only giving up a single before ending it.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 55-39 |
| Giants | 53-41 (2 GB)* |
| Diamondbacks | 52-42 (2.5 GB)* |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The Dodgers will go for a sweep at the ungodly hour of 7:05 AM HT/10:05 AM PT/1:05 PM ET with Julio Urias facing Dean Kremer.
