Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers bullpen has been worn down and has struggled mightily as a result, so fans understandably weren’t looking forward to watching them try to protect a one-run lead for half the game. However, they came through big time today, protecting the early lead the offense managed to scrap together over the final 4.1 innings in a 3-2 victory to secure the road series against the Athletics.
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Despite the lineup looking brutal on paper, they got off to a quick start in the 1st. A Teoscar Hernandez double was followed by a Gavin Lux walk, and with two down it was Enrique Hernandez coming through with a double to drive them both in. 2-0.
Two-way player Kiké can do it all. pic.twitter.com/sP87VtCTqo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 4, 2024
Unfortunately, the A’s came right back on River Ryan in their half of the 1st. Things started well with a pair of outs, but a two-strike single was followed by Brent Rooker annihilating a ball to left for a homer to tie things up at 2-2.
Absolutely no doubt about that one ?
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) August 4, 2024
Brent Rooker's 28th home run of the season ties it up. pic.twitter.com/hHamE4uJHc
The Dodgers were the one to strike next in the 3rd, though they did get some help. On a Jason Heyward single, Lawrence Butler booted it to allow an extra base, which proved pivotal when Cavan Biggio singled to center for a 3-2 lead.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers didn’t score again. They did waste a lead-off double in the 6th and a walk and stolen base in the 8th, but that was basically all they could muster in terms of threats the rest of the way.
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Meanwhile, after the rocky 1st, Ryan seemed to settle in. He issued just a walk in the 2nd, faced the minimum in the 3rd thanks to a single being erased by a double play, and then got a clean 4th. However, the 5th saw a single, single, double steal, and walk to load things up with two outs, and that was the end of his day.
Evan Phillips was summoned to get Rooker out, and he came up big with a strikeout to extinguish the threat.
Evan leaves 'em loaded! pic.twitter.com/0A4uGZAyDx
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 4, 2024
In the 6th, Blake Treinen only gave up a “double” after Kevin Kiermaier lost a ball in the sun, then Alex Vesia and Daniel Hudson cruised through the 7th and 8th innings, respectively.
That left … well, Anthony Banda for the save in the 9th. And he responded with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to seal the win without drama.
Shocking, honestly.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 65-47 |
| Padres | 61-52 (4.5 GB) |
The Dodgers will now return home and welcome in the Phillies, starting at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be a marquee matchup with Tyler Glasnow facing Aaron Nola on MLB Network.
