Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Coming off an impressive sweep of the Pirates, the Dodgers continued to look more and more like a complete team in a 5-2 victory to start their four-game series against the Brewers today.
Mookie Betts returned with a homer and three RBI, while Shohei Ohtani also homered and Clayton Kershaw continued to be effective, which powered them to their fourth win in a row.
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Freddy Peralta started the game with a couple of scoreless frames, but Enrique Hernandez started the 3rd with an infield single and eventually came home on a two-run homer by Betts (11th) in his return from the IL. Ridiculous, honestly.
Misses two months, skips rehab games, hits homer immediately, refuses to elaborate. pic.twitter.com/FVHNqGS9IF
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2024
After stranding a two-out walk and single in the 4th, the 5th began with a Kevin Kiermaier single and then Ohtani destroying a ball the other way for his 36th dong of the year to make it 4-0.
Home run No. 36 for Shohei! pic.twitter.com/UenWmTcjLO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 13, 2024
Keeping that zero on the board was Kershaw on the other end, who continues to be effective. After a clean 1st on just seven pitches, he worked around a double and walk in the 2nd thanks to a strike ’em out, throw ’em out double play, then got a clean 3rd and 4th as well. The 5th saw a single, balk, and walk put Kershaw in some trouble, but he also worked around that without the runners even advancing.
Kershaw was rolling along, allowing just a single while getting two outs in the 6th, but Dave Roberts came to get him due to pitch count or whatever: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 83 Pitches.
As you can see, he has a run charged to him, which is because Joe Kelly entered in relief and gave up a two-run homer to William Contreras. He then allowed a pair of singles before mercifully getting the final out of the 6th. 4-2.
Right back in it, just like that@Wcontreras42 https://t.co/HJl3AI2Pv1 pic.twitter.com/VegFDCvWdo
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 13, 2024
When Joe Kelly relieves you: pic.twitter.com/rxn8Rdr0yx
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2024
For the Brewers, Peralta was done after a clean 6th, and the pen started off well in the 7th with a pair of outs. However, Ohtani then drew a walk and stole second, which led to a Betts single that pushed the lead to 5-2.
With two outs, Shohei Ohtani drew a walk and stole second, and Mookie Betts singled him in to get a run back. pic.twitter.com/lKde0SUX3P
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2024
For the Dodgers in the 7th, it was Alex Vesia, who was dominant in striking out the side and saw his velocity tick back up.
Alex Vesia's juice looks to be back. Been a while without the arrow pointing down on his fastball. pic.twitter.com/Ocs8enf78f
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2024
Michael Kopech followed him, issuing a two-out walk but striking out a pair in a scoreless frame.
HNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG pic.twitter.com/0dvRbi4EMF
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 13, 2024
The offense didn’t add any runs, so it was a three-run lead for Daniel Hudson in the 9th, who got a clean frame on just 10 pitches.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 70-49 |
| Diamondbacks | 66-53 (4 GB)* |
| Padres | 66-53 (4 GB)* |
*Currently playing.
Same time, same place, same team tomorrow at 2:10 PM HT/5:10 PM PT/8:10 PM ET on TBS. It’ll be Gavin Stone looking to end his run of mediocrity against Colin Rea.
