Coming off a series loss against an NL West team, the Dodgers started against another today, facing the Giants in what was a back-and-forth battle. Things stayed knotted for a bit late and went into extras, where the Dodgers are usually horrid. Thankfully, Will Smith came up big with a pair of batters on, and J.P. Feyereisen of all people locked things down in the 10th in a 6-4 victory.
The most amazing thing is they’ve won their last two extra-inning games.
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Facing Jordan Hicks making a successful transition to starter, the Dodgers welcomed him rudely with Mookie Betts leading the game off with his seventh homer of the year. That’s his first since April 12 (!!!) and made it a 1-0 game.
Hello, Mookie! pic.twitter.com/6FB28wtpYF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 14, 2024
Despite Yoshinobu Yamamoto being incredible since his debut start, he surprisingly put the Dodgers in a hole today. After a lead-off single in the 2nd and an infield single later, it was Luis Matos who teed off on a hanging breaking ball to make it 1-3.
Too Lu-easy pic.twitter.com/IIYA6UegRm
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) May 14, 2024
After a couple of quiet innings, the Dodgers began to chip away at that lead. Andy Pages led the 5th off with a double, but it looked like he might be stranded after a strikeout and a diving catch on a fly ball. However, they got fortunate on a wild pitch that advanced Pages, because Shohei Ohtani beat out an infield single to score that run and make it 2-3.
Nice to have your slugger also be the guy who can steal hits with his legs. pic.twitter.com/xOxCdnMBQ2
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 14, 2024
Against the Giants pen now, the Dodgers came right back in the 6th. After a Max Muncy walk was advanced on a wild pitch, Gavin Lux continued to look healthier, taking an inside pitch and muscling it into the gap for a ground-rule double to tie things up at 3-3.
The Gavinaissance (Work In Progress) pic.twitter.com/ymGJSYbjul
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 14, 2024
On the other end, Yamamoto continued to look uncharacteristically off, as he gave the run back after back-to-back walks and then a single past Betts by Heliot Ramos that should’ve at least been knocked down. That was the end of his night and it was 3-4 when he left: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 84 Pitches.
Alex Vesia entered to make sure it stayed at that score, and got the strikeout that did so.
Keeping up with the back-and-forth theme, Enrique Hernandez immediately retied the game, lining a pinch-hit homer (his 2nd) to left to tie things up at 4-4.
GIANT SWING, KIKÉ. pic.twitter.com/AN4azdLGRz
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 14, 2024
Michael Grove had the 7th, getting a dominant frame with two strikeouts that took just 10 pitches. Daniel Hudson followed in the 8th and was also impressive with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless frame. Blake Treinen was up next in the 9th, and he didn’t have his command at all, but managed to get through it thanks to a pick-off of a runner and pure stuff.
Unfortunately, the offense didn’t hit for shit, so we went to extras.
Things didn’t start great for the historically extra-baseball-challenged Dodgers, as Shohei struck out, but after a walk to Freddie Freeman, Smith came up huge with a double to the wall in center that made it 6-4.
Will Smith starts the scoring in extras with a double to center for a pair of runs. pic.twitter.com/CWnh5elSUA
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 14, 2024
Of course, they weren’t able to add on, so it was just that lead for Feyereisen. He started well, striking out a batter, but then issued a walk to put a pair on. However, he bounced right back with a ground-ball double play to end the game.
THAT'S GAME. pic.twitter.com/wBDJtkZkAb
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 14, 2024
They will never lose in extras again!
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This was amusing at least.
Choosing to believe this is Shohei Ohtani saying "Fuck" because it's funniest that way. pic.twitter.com/sJfqAUlp4j
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 14, 2024
Masanori Murakami was in attendance.
Cool. pic.twitter.com/KWBp2Ul4Ea
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 14, 2024
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28-15, no NL West team is over .500 except them.
Same two teams, same time, same location tomorrow at 3:45 PM HT/6:45 PM PT/9:45 PM ET. Gavin Stone will look to continue his breakout 2024 campaign, and he’ll face off against Keaton Winn.