Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After their first series win of the season, the Dodgers completed their first sweep of the season thanks to a close 5-4 victory over the Giants tonight.
Tyler Glasnow mostly looked the part of an ace aside from fading late, and the offense wasn’t amazing but still put up runs, which is what you want to see. And, of course, Shohei Ohtani finally homered for the first time as a Dodger, so he now trails Miguel Rojas by only one.
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The Dodgers have been hot at the plate to start the year and the next sacrifice was rookie Kyle Harrison. It took them a bit to really get going, but they started with one down in the 2nd, as a Max Muncy walk, a friendly Enrique Hernandez single under Matt Chapman‘s glove, and a Chris Taylor walk loaded the bases. Rojas then chopped a grounder soft enough that made a double play impossible for the game’s first run.
On the other end was Glasnow, who was already making his third start of the season, turning in his second impressive start in a row. Through the first two frames, he took just 18 pitches to carve the Giants lineup. However, in the 3rd, he gave up a solo homer to Patrick Bailey on a mistake hanging slider, tying the game up at 1-1.
Fortunately for him, the Dodgers started cooking in the 3rd. While Ohtani is struggling early, he’s still finding ways to contribute, as he started a rally with an infield single after outrunning Harrison to first. He then somehow scored on a Will Smith double down the line in left despite freezing on a line drive, and Smith himself then immediately scored on a Teoscar Hernandez bloop single. This offense can make things ugly for the opposing starter in a hurry.
Teoscar Hernandez immediately follows Will Smith's double with a bloop single to make it 3-1 in a hurry. pic.twitter.com/DRZcvNt6kO
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
An unlikely source led to another run in the 4th, as Rojas ripped a two-out homer to left for his second of the year and a 4-1 lead.
Miggy sends one to the bullpen! pic.twitter.com/R0906BTdXM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2024
On the other side, a walk and wild pitch in the 4th saw a runner reach scoring position, but Glasnow struck out the side. He got through the 5th without damage as well, allowing only a single to Bailey, who I guess was playing the role of Paul Goldschmidt from Glasnow’s last start when he had all three hits for their team.
The 6th was more complicated for Glasnow, as he issued a one-out walk and then gave up a double to put a pair in scoring position. He got ahead of Michael Conforto but then left a curve over the plate that was banged into right for a single to cut the lead to 4-3. However, Glasnow did lock in after that, getting a pair of groundouts to close his outing and exit with the lead.
6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 100 Pitches
Bit of a struggle late but Tyler Glasnow exits with the lead. Seven strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/oFy6nJhWNY
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
Harrison was done after five innings, and the Dodgers couldn’t get much going against the pen for a bit, but out of nowhere Ohtani crushed his first homer of the year as a Dodger off Taylor Rogers for a 5-3 lead. A bit of breathing room.
Thanks. pic.twitter.com/2rCrpPBxpE https://t.co/R0yPnnVrVj
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
Shohei Ohtani gets a face full of Teoscar Hernandez's seeds. pic.twitter.com/7fk2Z2PRJ9
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
Los Angeles, 9:09 p.m. — Shohei Ohtani's first homer as a Dodger.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 4, 2024
That was it for the offense, however, as they wasted their only other chance in the 8th following a pair of singles.
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Relieving Glasnow was Joe Kelly, who has allowed six runs in his last 1.2 innings, and who of course promptly retired the side on 14 pitches, including two strikeouts.
Joe Kelly is the duality of man.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
Daniel Hudson then followed in the 8th, looking sharp for the most part, other than falling behind 3-1 to Jorge Soler and seeing his “don’t walk this guy” pitch get absolutely obliterated to make it 5-4.
Well, sometimes when you throw that 3-1 hit-me fastball cause you're up by two they do actually hit it. pic.twitter.com/j3SZmAcRFP
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
Surprisingly, it was Dinelson Lamet for the save in the 9th, and after almost hitting opposing batters like five times, he somehow got a 1-2-3 frame for the save and the sweep.
——Seriously though, feel great for Dinelson Lamet after his struggles. He was pumped. pic.twitter.com/EiRIvHIRPq
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
Orel Hershiser was feeling it.
Tyler Glasnow gets Orel Hershiser excited. pic.twitter.com/EABm6FLVVq
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
His actual job.
“I actually talked to doc this morning and he told me to just be yourself and don’t try to do too much so that really helped me a lot.” Shohei Ohtani with @kirsten_watson on his first home run with the #Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/JGOFaQ8y6B
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 4, 2024
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Let’s get weird.
What is happening. pic.twitter.com/V4afiUUECd
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 4, 2024
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7-2, the 160-2 dream is alive.
The team will now be hitting the road, so they’ll have a day off tomorrow. After that, it’ll be a game in Chicago against the Cubs at 8:20 AM HT/11:20 AM PT/2:20 PM ET with Bobby Miller facing off against Kyle Hendricks.
