Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers have now won four series in a row after jumping out to an early lead tonight behind a barrage of hits and then holding on late to a slim lead in a 6-3 victory over the Orioles.
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Orioles starter Cade Povich had a bad time tonight, not really having anything to get Dodgers hitters out at all. While he got a scoreless inning in the 1st, he also gave up a pair of singles and a stolen base, taking 23 pitches to get through it. The scoring started in the 2nd, as an Enrique Hernandez double was immediately cashed in by a Chris Taylor single for a 1-0 lead.
A birthday knock from CT3! pic.twitter.com/7KAPbB1TDt
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 30, 2024
While they ended up stranding that runner and then a pair of singles in the 3rd, they put up a crooked number in the 4th as a floodgates finally opened.
A CT3 bloop single was followed by a Gavin Lux ground-rule double, and then Austin Barnes appropriately Baltimore chopped his way to a double and a pair of runs. A Mookie Betts single scored another, and that was followed by a Teoscar Hernandez walk that spelled the end of Povich’s night. That wasn’t the end of his line, however, as Miguel Rojas added a single for a four-run inning and a 5-0 lead.
Four in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/TTNEKDtpUR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 30, 2024
At least early on, Bobby Miller made that look like more than enough. He retired the first six batters he faced, though he did grimace while covering first in the 2nd, which was obviously a concern. However, Miller worked around two walks and a steal in the 3rd and faced the minimum in the 4th by erasing a single with a double play.
Then the 5th happened, perhaps a product of the long Dodgers rally, as he hit the first batter of the inning, walked a batter, and then gave up a three-run homer to Colton Cowser to get the Orioles back in it at 5-3.
The Milkman always delivers. pic.twitter.com/uUqAxCwNiU
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 30, 2024
That was the last inning for Miller, as he didn’t get hit hard but his control was spotty at best: 5 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 86 Pitches.
The pen looked to continue their run of success, as Anthony Banda took over in the 6th and gave up just a single. Next up we got Daniel Hudson in the 7th for the first time since August 20, and he started well by getting two outs on two pitches. However, he then lost control, giving up a single and a pair of walks to load the bases.
Dave Roberts was then forced to turn to Blake Treinen, who got behind 2-0 to Gunnar Henderson on two borderline pitches and then fought back for an absolutely huge strikeout to end the threat. He then continued his dominance into the 8th, getting a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
SHUT IT DOWN, BLAKE. ? pic.twitter.com/dMWgW9XfNB
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 30, 2024
Meanwhile, the Dodgers offense seemed to stall out again against the Orioles pen, managing just a single between the 5th and 6th, and then stranding a double and walk in the 7th. However, they got an Barnes single and stolen base, and then Mookie and Teoscar to load things up, and managed an insurance run behind a Tommy Edman sac fly to push the lead to 6-3.
Taking over in the 9th was Evan Phillips, who started with a worrying HBP, but rebounded with a strikeout, flyout, and another strikeout to end it.
Series winner.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 80-54 |
| Diamondbacks | 76-58 (4 GB) |
| Padres | 76-60 (5 GB) |
Buckle up kids, the Dodgers will now travel to Arizona for a pivotal four-game series against the Diamondbacks, who are second in the NL West and well within striking distance. The series starts at 3:40 PM HT/6:40 PM PT/9:40 PM ET with Clayton Kershaw facing Zac Gallen.
