Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Kicking off a nine-game road trip, the Dodgers at least got things off to a nice start against a team they dropped a series to a home. After both offenses were relatively quiet early on, it was the Dodgers that rallied late and won a battle of the bullpens (!!!) in a 4-1 victory over the Nationals. A bit scary at the end.
Also that alien guy hit a ball into space.
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After walking the world in his last start, James Paxton looked much sharper today, despite some early traffic. He managed to work around a single, wild pitch, and walk in the 1st, but couldn’t escape without damage in the 2nd. A double was only prevented from scoring on a single due to Max Muncy‘s diving stop at third, but a bunt single from Jacob Young followed to make it 1-0 to the Nationals.
Paxton then settled down, facing the minimum over the next 10 batters he faced, tallying a clean 3rd and picking off a walk in the 4th. However, after getting the first two outs in the 5th, he issued a gave up a single, stolen base, and walk, which knocked him out of the game.
Wouldn’t say he was necessary great, but he was effective: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 89 Pitches.
Dave Roberts then went with Michael Grove out of the pen, and he made sure no further runs were added to Paxton’s ledger, as he got a fly out to end the 5th.
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On the other end, you’d think the Dodgers were busy against Patrick Corbin, but he didn’t give them many shots at scoring. A double and a walk with two outs in the 1st, a single, stolen base, and walk with two outs in the 3rd, and a single and error with two outs in the 5th was basically all they got off him in terms of chances with RISP.
After getting one out in the 6th, Corbin was relieved, and a two-out Dodger rally was cashed in against the pen. Teoscar Hernandez started things with a single and Muncy followed with a walk, then Enrique Hernandez rewarded Roberts’ confidence in him by singling to tie the game up at 1-1.
Enrique Hernandez ties the game up with a single. pic.twitter.com/ZjGwuKS8qd
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 24, 2024
That truly left things as a battle of the pens down the stretch, and Grove continued on for the Dodgers in the 6th. He got a couple outs but also issued a walk, which led to Alex Vesia entering and getting a fly out to end the frame. Vesia also continued in the 7th by facing the minimum after picking off an infield single.
The offense didn’t take advantage of a chance in the 7th with a two-out walk and single, but the 8th saw a Teoscar walk start a rally. With one out he stole second and then scored on a double from James Outman, who was finally rewarded for his hard contact. Then with two down it was slugging shortstop Miguel Rojas, who singled in Outman to make it 3-1 for the Dodgers.
James Outman doubles for the late lead in the 8th! pic.twitter.com/By57ept9us
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 24, 2024
Bat-first shortstop Miguel Rojas singles for insurance. pic.twitter.com/jORmvvpLkO
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 24, 2024
The Dodgers thankfully weren’t done, as Shohei Ohtani led the 8th off with … I mean, an absolutely mammoth homer to right. 450 feet and 119 mph off the bat, just absolutely missile’d into the stands for his sixth of the year at a 4-1 lead.
Dodger fan who got the ball was equally electric. pic.twitter.com/Q0hho9CUsZ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 24, 2024
Man.
Poor Eric Karros, who I think had his brain broken processing it.
Shohei Ohtani's homer breaks Eric Karros' brain. pic.twitter.com/c8O9xGLuX0
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 24, 2024
Anyway, back to winning the game, it was Daniel Hudson in the 8th forced to labor through a 27-pitch inning. Only a walk was issued and no real trouble, but that probably knocks him out until at least the series finale.
To close the game out, it was Evan Phillips in the 9th, who also was forced to labor a bit after losing command completely. With one out, after issuing back-to-back walks, he gave up a single to right, but the Nats ran into an out and gave the Dodgers a gift.
Nationals maybe give Evan Phillips a chance of getting out of this. Also, Will Smith saved Max Muncy's ass. pic.twitter.com/QdrmUIUM8q
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 24, 2024
Phillips then issued a four-pitch walk to load the bases and bring the winning run to the plate, then also got behind 3-1 to the next batter before battling back and getting a strikeout on a hanging sweep right down the middle.
Evan Phillips shuts the door! #DodgersWin pic.twitter.com/4CGp5ASrmL
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) April 24, 2024
Uh … yeah.
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14-11, on the verge of a winning streak.
Same two teams tomorrow, matching up at 12:45 PM HT/3:45 PM PT/6:45 PM ET with Landon Knack making his follow-up start against Jake Irvin, who dominated the Dodgers last time.
