Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a day off yesterday, the Dodgers started their southeast road trip in Miami today and they did so in dominant fashion as they cruised to a 15-1 victory over the Marlins.
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Naturally, the excitement was about Dustin May getting another start. That was backed by an impressive 1st inning in which he showcased all his premium stuff, from a 96-98 mph sinker with incredible run to a tight 90-91 mph cutter to finally landing his sharp overhand curve. His three-pitch at-bat against Isan Diaz showcased the potential.
That potential was also backed with results tonight, as May surrendered just one run on three hits and a walk, striking out five in 5.2 innings. May was perfect through three, and again began to tire around the 5th, but still battled and remained effective.
I am trying my best to suppress my excitement.
Trying.
Speaking of excitement, the offense absolutely exploded tonight.
Things started quietly enough in the 2nd as A.J. Pollock led the frame off with a double and advanced to third on a ground out. He then scored on a wild pitch by Jordan Yamamoto to make it 1-0.
Things escalated quickly in the 4th, however. With two down, Pollock doubled again, which was followed by back-to-back blasts from Corey Seager and Will Smith, their respective 10th and 8th dongs of the year to make it 4-0.
In the 6th, Wei-Yin Chen relieved Yamamoto but provided none. Pollock started things with another double, his third of the day, and Smith later hit his second homer of the day and 9th of the year for a 6-1 lead.
With Chen still in the game in the 7th, things started with a Kyle Garlick double off the top of the wall in right, a Max Muncy double to score him, a Justin Turner moonshot (20th), and a Cody Bellinger bomb (39th, ties season high) to make it 10-1.
The Dodgers added another in the 8th behind Matt Beaty‘s 6th of the year, which at least came off a different reliever to make it 11-1.
The scoring was capped off in the 9th with a hilarious two-out rally. Kristopher Negron ruined the Dodgers all-XBH game with a single, then Caleb Ferguson the reliever doubled down the line in right, and Smith walked to load the bases. Beaty then unloaded them with a liner to center that got to the wall after a missed diving attempt for a three-run triple. Edwin Rios then walked to put runners at the corners, and Garlick followed with a single to make it 15-1.
Fortunately that one remained as one thanks to the solid work of the Dodgers relief core. Joe Kelly escaped trouble for May in the 6th by getting one out, JT Chargois got a 1-2-3 frame in the 7th with a strikeout, and Ferguson hit a batter in the 8th but also got a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
Then Martin took over on the mound with Adam Kolarek playing first in the 9th, and he continued to keep his ERA spotless. He allowed a single, but then got a fly out and a double play to end it and secure May’s first win.
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Muncy defense, of course.
Dustin “Waluigi” May has incredible entertainment value.
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The Dodgers are technically the second team in the majors to 80 wins at 80-41, a 107-win pace. They are 19 games up on the Diamondbacks in the NL West (still playing), 9.5 games up on the Braves in the NL (still playing), and tied with the Yankees in the MLB.
The two teams will do it again at the same time of 1:10 PM HST/4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST with Clayton Kershaw facing off against Elieser Hernandez.
