Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Needing the offense to get off the mat, the Dodgers lineup responded and they did it early, exploding for six runs in the first inning that essentially was enough for the bullpen to see out the rest of the game. And it really had to be since the bats didn’t do a whole lot else, but the pen continued their recent success and limited the Guardians to just two runs in a 7-2 victory.
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Things started early against Gavin Williams, as after Shohei Ohtani was retired to start despite hitting the first pitch a mile foul, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Max Muncy all drew walks to load the bases up. A Tommy Edman double was slashed down the line in left to plate two, a Gavin Lux sac fly followed, and a Miguel Rojas single made it 4-0 and knocked Williams out early.
After the bases are walked loaded, Tommy Edman slaps a ground-rule double for the game's first two runs. pic.twitter.com/xwZWUKNEv7
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 8, 2024
After a Lux sac fly, Rojas singles down the line in right to make it 4-0 and knock Williams out of the game in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/P1JXRd32Eq
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 8, 2024
There wasn’t any relief to be had, as Andy Pages then went yard to make it 6-0 with his 10th dong of the year.
Andy for two! pic.twitter.com/XXXDTOMur6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 8, 2024
On the other end was a pen game, which started with Ryan Brasier getting a scoreless 1st despite a single and steal. Michael Grove took over in the 2nd, and the Guardians got on the board when a runner reached on a catcher’s interference and Lane Thomas homered to make it 6-2.
The Guardians are on the board courtesy of a 2-run homer from Lane Thomas!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/XoUzzAmH7q
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) September 8, 2024
Presumed starter Justin Wrobleski started the 3rd and labored, but worked around a pair of walks. He then gave up a double, walked a batter, and hit a batter to load things up in the 4th, but against managed to pull off a Houdini act by stranding them all and keeping the game at 6-2.
The Dodgers then extended their lead in the 4th behind Betts’ 16th dinger of the year that put the score at 7-2.
There's no guarding Mookie. pic.twitter.com/oFzmVJk7ud
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 8, 2024
Almost predictably, the Dodgers didn’t get anything else the rest of the game. Thankfully, it didn’t matter much.
For the Dodgers pen, it was Blake Treinen taking over and also working out of trouble, giving up a single and double but no runs in the 5th. Up next was Alex Vesia in the 6th, who managed a miracle of getting a 1-2-3 inning. Michael Kopech then followed him and allowed a single and steal in the 7th but nothing else. Brent Honeywell Jr. then started in the 8th and managed a clean frame, leading him to also get the 9th and finish the game off.
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IT’S ME
So true. pic.twitter.com/REdiEPcnsg
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 8, 2024
"And they ask you how you are, and you just have to say that you're fine, when you're not really fine, but you just can't get into it because they would never understand." pic.twitter.com/YuxMn6KTRn
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 8, 2024
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 85-57 |
| Padres | 81-63 (5 GB) |
| Diamondbacks | 79-64 (6.5 GB) |
The series will conclude tomorrow during the daylight at 10:10 AM HT/1:10 PM PT/4:10 PM ET, and it’ll be Jack Flaherty against Tanner Bibee.
