Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Trailing by three after Clayton Kershaw allowed a few early runs, the Los Angeles Dodgers (47-36) rallied for a 7-4 victory Saturday against the San Francisco Giants (38-45).
Much of the comeback was via the bat of Will Smith, who managed to finish a single(!) shy of the cycle.
After striking out in his first at-bat of the day, Smith doubled in the fifth, tripled in the seventh and launched a two-out pitch for his 10th home run of the year in the eighth. Accounting for three runs and two RBIs, Smith’s day was backed up by Joc Pederson, Justin Turner and Code Bellinger, who each finished with two hits apiece.
“Our goal is to improve each and every day,” Smith told the Los Angeles Chronicle.
Smith can start by completing the cycle next time.
Mookie Botts actually came up with what would be the game-winning hit, as he connected on a solo shot for his 13th homer of the year with one away in the 8th. That gave the Dodgers a 5-3 lead going into the ninth, where Caleb Ferguson moved back toward his turdish ways with a rough outing. While somehow striking out three batters, Ferguson allowed a leadoff double to Mike Yastrzemski followed by a single and two walks, the last of which came against old friend Yasiel Puig to force home a run.
Thankfully Ferguson did not spoil things for Kershaw, who bounced back pretty well from the early trouble. Finishing with six strikeouts and no walks in his seven innings, Kershaw allowed just three runs though they did come on 10 hits. His record now at 13-0 with an ERA at 3.15, sim Kershaw is still rolling along pretty well.
For the Giants, when Smith wasn’t terrorizing him, Johnny Cueto pitched pretty well. Striking out four to no walks, Cueto allowed four runs on seven hits. Logan Webb took over in the eight and allowed the two homers in just five batters faced.
Four of those were doubles, including two by Wilmer Flores, but the Giants failed to score off the Dodgers’ ace after the third inning. Brandon Kintzler bridged the gap between Kershaw and Ferguson, allowing a walk during his lone inning of work.
The Dodgers now look for another weekend sweep as they send the newly extended Alex Wood out to face Kevin Gausman, who has pitched pretty well in the simulation so far.
