Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After the Dodgers started their road trip with a win to get them back on track a bit, they looked to secure the series against the Nationals this afternoon.
They did exactly that thanks to Will Smith, who got his first start and six RBI, powering the Dodgers to a 9-3 victory.
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Clayton Kershaw started the game and things looked dire early. He began by giving up a single, wild pitch, and triple for a run, and was lucky to escape the 1st with only another run allowed on a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 deficit.
But after the first two batters, he actually retired 18 of his next 22, not allowing a single run more. He walked three but only allowed three hits, striking out nine.
The Dodgers offense remember how to hit today, which backed him up nicely. In the 3rd, Smith homered in his first plate appearance back from AAA, smacking an oppo shot for his 4th of the year.
In the 4th they put up a crooked number. A one-out walk to Cody Bellinger on nine pitches started things, and he advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a Max Muncy single to tie things at 2-2. Corey Seager followed with a double to right to plate another and advanced to third on a bobble, then Smith lifted a sacrifice fly for another run to make it 4-2.
Smith did it again in the 6th following a two-out rally. Muncy and Seager came up with back-to-back singles, then Smith had a double fall in for another run and a 5-2 lead.
The Dodgers capped their scoring in the 7th. A one-out double from Justin Turner and a two-out single from Bellinger plated a run, and then back-to-back walks to Muncy and Seager led to the bases loaded. Smith then unloaded them with a double to deep left for three runs and a 9-2 lead.
Decent, I guess.
Joe elly, he of the hot streak, entered in the 7th and promptly almost hit Yan Gomes a couple times then surrendered a homer on a hanging curve to make it 9-3. He also issued a walk, but struck out two batters. I dunno.
Caleb Ferguson got the 8th, surrendering a walk but at least not allowing a run, which is an improvement in itself. He also started the 9th, but gave up a single and exited for JT Chargois, who promptly induced a double play and then got a strikeout to end it.
Will Smith is good.
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The Dodgers are now 69 (NICE!!!) and 37.
They will go for the sweep tomorrow way too early at 7:35 AM HST/10:35 AM PST/1:35 PM EST with Walker Buehler against Stephen Strasburg.
