Dodgers 4, Mariners 2: Eric Lauer stays undefeated through 9 games as a Dodger with 6 shutout frames

After a frustrating loss yesterday, the Dodgers bounced right back thanks to the apparently invincible and undefeatable Eric Lauer, who twirled six shutout and gave the team exactly what they needed. The offense managed to claw their way to a solid amount of run support, and the pen didn’t implode for once as they secured a 4-2 victory over the Mariners.

Trade rumors? What trade rumors?

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It’s reaching comical levels at this point, but Eric Lauer continues to roll on and there’s not much that can slow him down.

After an error himself with one-out in the 1st got him in trouble thanks to a two-out stolen base and a hit batter, he got a strikeout to escape that jam. He then rebounded with a clean 2nd and faced the minimum in the 3rd thanks to picking off a single.

There’s not much to post about Lauer cause there’s not much going on, as he got a clean 4th and 5th inning and then erased a four-pitch walk in the 6th by immediately inducing a double play. It’s that easy.

Whatever he’s doing, it’s working: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 87 Pitches.

Just doing his job.

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On the other side was Emerson Hancock, and the Dodgers didn’t quite give Lauer as much run support as they usually have, but they did give him something and that was enough.

It started early when Andy Pages yoinked a breaking ball down the line in left for his 18th homer to make it 1-0 Dodgers.

After an uneventful 2nd, the Dodgers rallied in the 3rd with one out, as Shohei Ohtani singled and Pages followed with one of his own on a run-and-hit that saw the runners cornered. Freddie Freeman followed by getting completely sawed off but almost confusing Weston Wilson at third for an infield single to make it 2-0, though that was where the rally died.

They got traffic in the 4th as well, as Mookie Betts led off with a single and Teoscar Hernandez doubled with one out to put a pair in scoring position. With two down and a base open, Shohei was given a free pass, and this time it was Pages who got jammed a bit and confused Wilson for another infield single and run. 3-0. Again though, they did leave the rest of the runners.

Hancock ended his outing after a clean 5th and their pen took over. With two down in the 6th, Dalton Rushing singled and was then running on a full-count delivery when Shohei found the oppo gap to score him to make it 4-0 Dodgers.

That was it for them as they went quietly in the 7th and 8th.

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For the Dodgers pen, it was Alex Vesia looking to bounce back in the 7th after a rough run of late. He issued a two-out walk but nothing else in a scoreless inning.

Things weren’t as smooth for Tanner Scott in the 8th, as he gave up a one-out gapper and then seemed to give up at least a double to left. However, Teoscar Hernandez (yes, Teoscar Hernandez) made a leaping catch into the wall that got an ovation from Dave Roberts.

Scott did give up a single for a run that cut the lead to 4-1, but it could’ve been a lot worse if it wasn’t for Teoscar in left.

After that, it was time.

Edwin Diaz entered for the save in the 9th, but also had a bit of a rough welcome back.

Granted, he wasn’t helped.

He gave up a pair of doubles to score a run and make it 4-2 Dodgers, and the three outs he did get were two balls hit hard but too high and a fliner to first to end the game.

A win’s a win.

I imagine Dave was happy with what he got to do.

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68-40, returning to a game up on the Brewers for the best record in baseball.

The series will conclude tomorrow on MLB Network at the same time of 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Roki Sasaki looking to continue his run of back-to-back great starts, and he’ll be facing Bryce Miller.

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"A highly rational Internet troll." - Los Angeles Times