Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead to kick this series off, but the Cardinals struck back with a barrage of homers to snatch the lead right back. However, a big two-out rally for five runs in the 6th is what basically won the game for the Dodgers, as the bullpen barely clung on to a 7-6 victory.
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The scoring got started against Miles Mikolas in the 2nd, when Gavin Lux ambushed the first pitch and smacked his eighth homer to center off the glove of Victor Scott II.
Gavin to dead center! pic.twitter.com/sMN4va5DhD
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2024
Miguel Rojas later doubled and then scored on a Kevin Kiermaier single to make it 2-0 early.
Kevin Kiermaier singles in a Miguel Rojas double as Dino Ebel catches a break. pic.twitter.com/BLMTMVebFk
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 17, 2024
Unfortunately, Justin Wrobleski had trouble with the dinger today on the opposite side. After facing the minimum in the 1st thanks to a walk being erased by a caught stealing, a lead-off walk in the 2nd was cashed in by Paul Goldschmidt to tie the game at 2-2.
Goldy hits a big fly to right to tie it up in the 2nd! ?#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/c02ia3CfyB
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 17, 2024
Masyn Winn then gave the Cards the lead in the 3rd with a solo shot that made it 3-2.
Masyn Winn Hits the Buds for the lead! ?
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 17, 2024
Reply with #STLCards and #HitTheBuds for your chance to win whenever a Cardinals player hits a home run into the opposing bullpen!
Official rules: https://t.co/v3V0xNP2oe pic.twitter.com/PpnjrLpJZY
After he stranded a two-out double in the 4th, Wrobleski gave up another homer in the 5th, this time to Pedro Pages to push the Cards lead to 4-2. That inning also spelled the end of Wrobleski’s day: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 3 K, 79 Pitches.
Might sound crazy but it ain't no lie,
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 17, 2024
Bye bye bye ⚾️?#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/W9ndRPccA4
As all this was going on, Mikolas had been bizarrely dominant, getting 11 straight batters heading into the 6th. Fortunately, that ended quickly, as Mookie Betts yanked his 12th dinger of the year to left to make it 4-3.
Mookie makes it look so easy. pic.twitter.com/ed6ZQmE1cp
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2024
Two outs followed, so it looked like no big deal, but a Lux single and a Will Smith infield single meant they had a rally going. Mikolas exited at that point, but relievers poured gasoline on the fire, as Miggy singled to tie the game and then … Kiermaier (?!) pulled his fifth homer of the year and first as a Dodger for a 7-4 lead.
Miggy Ro ties the game up with a two-out single. pic.twitter.com/elxiGFLfcB
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 17, 2024
K3VIN! pic.twitter.com/PQdFVn75ji
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2024
So that brought in the Dodgers pen, and that started about as well as things have gone recently. A lineout sandwiched between a pair of walks is all Michael Grove got, then Anthony Banda entered and gave up a pair of singles for a pair of Cardinals runs to make it 7-6.
Hangin' tough#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/Bju95OynNx
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 17, 2024
Next up was Evan Phillips in the 7th, and while he issued a walk, he miraculously got a scoreless pen inning. It was then another ride on The Joe Kelly Experience in the 8th, and while he also issued a walk, he too got a scoreless frame. It’s basically a miracle at that point.
Due to the offense not being able to put anything together, it was Michael Kopech with a one-run lead in the 9th, seemingly auditioning for closer. All he did with his first save chance is strikeout two batters, get a routine grounder to third, and touch 103 mph for the save.
Michael Kopech locks down his first save with the Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/HplYPKdRq1
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 17, 2024
Nice.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 72-51 |
| Padres | 69-53 (2.5 GB)* |
| Diamondbacks | 69-54 (3 GB) |
*Currently playing.
About an hour earlier between the two teams tomorrow at 1:15 PM HT/4:15 PM PT/6:15 PM ET on FOX. It’ll be Bobby Miller getting the call against Andre Pallante.
