Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Completing a dominant four-game sweep of the hapless Rockies, the Dodgers relied on Julio Urias looking like Julio Urias again and a “power surge” of sorts from Miguel Rojas to cruise to another victory, this time by an 8-3 score.
The Dodgers have now won eight games in a row, four series in a row, and 12 of their last 13 games.
======
The Dodgers took the early lead facing Kyle Freeland, as after a quiet 1st, the 2nd started with an Amed Rosario double and a Max Muncy single to make it 1-0.
Amed's got the bullpen hyped. 😂 pic.twitter.com/PDIcHs5BAp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2023
After a Chris Taylor walk and a James Outman single, the bases were loaded, and amusingly they got another run on a Rojas infield pop that dropped in due to the sun. Unfortunately, the rally ended there and it was just 2-0.
That seemed relevant immediately, as Urias looked great and had three strikeouts while allowing just a single through two innings, but in the 3rd a one-out double and a two-out Cole Tucker single cut the lead to 2-1. Though to be fair, at least it led to a cool Mookie Betts throwing highlight.
Mookie with a dart! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/h4NeDNhCca
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 13, 2023
The Dodgers did get the run back in the 3rd against Freeland as a Will Smith double was cashed in on a Rosario single (and error) to make it 3-1.
Unfortunately, they would need that cushion, as Julio would give up runs in the 4th due to hitting a batter to start the frame and then giving up a two-out Alan Trejo homer to tie things up at 3-3.
Again though, the Dodgers came right back in their half of the 4th, as Rojas of all people hit his second homer of the year for a 4-3 lead.
Send it, Miggy! pic.twitter.com/wlJoFM0pnq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2023
After a quiet 5th, Freeland exited the game, and the Dodgers got insurance against the Rockies pen in the 6th. Enrique Hernandez started the rally with a single, Muncy drew a walk, and Taylor loaded the bases on an infield single. A run crossed on a one-out Rojas sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the day, and a Mookie double plated the other two runners to make it 7-3.
You’ll noticed I stopped updating about Urias, and that’s because he was dominant after the homer. He retired 10 straight and struck out eight of those batters, including seven in a row at one point.
While he gave up three runs, it was another very promising start from Urias, who looked as good as ever: 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 12 K, 88 Pitches.
Julio Urias matches his career-high with 12 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/TfoHeChDnk
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2023
In relief of Urias was Alex Vesia, who continued that unit’s run of success with a 1-2-3 frame in the 8th.
——
The Dodgers then gave the pen even more breathing room in the 8th after a quiet 7th, as Taylor walked and stole both second and third, then scored on another Rojas sacrifice fly.
Miguel Rojas power surge four RBI game, which is a homer, two outfield fly balls for two sac flies, and an infield pop lost in the sun.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2023
?????
To close the game out with the bigger lead was Victor Gonzalez back up from AAA. While he gave up a single to start the inning, he then got three outs in a row, including a strikeout for the last one to close Fernandomania Weekend out in a celebratory mood.
======
| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 71-46 |
| Giants | 63-55 (8.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
After a day off tomorrow, the red-hot Dodgers will welcome the Brewers to Dodger Stadium at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Bobby Miller looking to continue the rotation’s success against Wade Miley.
