Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Hey, what a way to start a home opener, huh?
The Big 3 for the Dodgers went 5-for-8 with five runs, four RBI, a double, two homers, and four walks, while Tyler Glasnow showed much more normal command of his pitches in his Dodger Stadium debut as he and the Dodgers basically cruised to a 7-1 victory over the Cardinals.
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Miles Mikolas was the Opening Day starter for the Cardinals, and he had some goals and analogies to make.
#STLCards RHP Miles Mikolas on opening vs. the #Dodgers : “We’re not exactly a low payroll team, but you got the Dodgers playing checkbook baseball. We’re going to be the hardest working group of Midwestern farmers we can be. … It would be great to stick it to the Dodgers.”
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 16, 2024
Needless to say, things didn’t start ideally for the midwestern farmer when up against capitalism. Mookie Betts drew a lead-off walk, and then Shohei Ohtani followed with a double down the line in right. However, he did charity for Mikolas by not picking up Dino Ebel and running through a stop sign for a TOOTBLAN at second.
No matter, Freddie Freeman singled to drive in the game’s first run, Will Smith followed with a single of his own to corner the runners, and Max Muncy hit a deep sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 early.
Strike first! pic.twitter.com/Myh2G9HEQt
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 28, 2024
After a quiet 2nd, the 3rd started with the top of the order again, and yet again the Big 3 came through. Mookie drilled his second homer of the year, Ohtani drew a walk, and then Freeman hit his first homer of the year to make it 5-0 in a flash.
Well, not anymore, as Freddie Freeman homers after Shohei Ohtani walks. pic.twitter.com/uw1qWt8suJ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
Meanwhile, on the mound for the Dodgers and making his second start in three games was Glasnow. And while his command was spotty at best in his debut, he was in control of things today.
Glasnow gave up just a single through his first three frames, but then did surrender a Paul Goldschmidt solo homer to start the 4th that cut the lead to 5-1. But the only trouble he faced the rest of the way was due to a Mookie throwing error and stolen base, as he mostly cruised and didn’t even give up problematic contact.
Dave Roberts decided to remove him a bit early because … well, it’s early: 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 81 Pitches.
Tyler Glasnow looked much sharper in his follow-up, striking out five and giving up just a solo homer in six frames. pic.twitter.com/5MAb5WNzhl
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
After a relatively quiet couple innings, the pen was in for the Cardinals by the 6th, and the rest of the lineup put in some work. With one down, Teoscar Hernandez doubled and James Outman followed with a single to push the lead to 6-1.
James Outman tacks on a run after a Teoscar Hernandez double. pic.twitter.com/HH1DAzOgxe
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
The Dodgers put together a rally in the 7th as well behind walks to Mookie and Freddie, with the former being cashed in by a Muncy single to make it 7-1.
Max Muncy singles for his second RBI of the day. pic.twitter.com/YJzKzKKY9L
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
Relieving Glasnow for the Dodgers was swingman Ryan Yarbrough, who promptly retired six batters in a row through the 7th and 8th.
The 9th started with a single by the one-man offense in Goldschmidt, but that was all they got and Eric Stephen unfortunately went home happy.
DAVE THE PITCH COUNT IS TOO HIGH DAVE https://t.co/pzgE9pMS0Z
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
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Jason Heyward got the D.
Nice catch by Jason Heyward. pic.twitter.com/NaimbIta8i
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
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Shohei ovation time.
Shohei Ohtani ovation before his first at-bat as a Dodger at Dodger Stadium. pic.twitter.com/RE0Amxujld
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
Tony Gonsolin is active at least.
The important thing is Tony Gonsolin is having fun. pic.twitter.com/NZ8BdlPrGz
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) March 28, 2024
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2-1, so the 161-win season is alive!
Same two teams at a much more Chad-friendly time tomorrow of 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET, and we’ll see Bobby Miller making his season debut against Zack Thompson.
