Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Coming off a series sweep of the Angels to cement a five-game winning streak, the Dodgers welcomed the Mariners for a pair of games. Fans watching were welcomed to a wild one where Ross Stripling had a disaster start but two five-run innings led to an 11-9 win.
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Stripling took the mound for the Dodgers, and while he had been rock-solid for them so far this year, he laid an absolute egg today. Trouble started in the 1st when allowed three straight singles, combined with an AJ Pollock misplay in left, for two runs.
The Dodgers struck back in their half of the 1st, as Mookie Betts led the game off for the good guys with a solo shot to make it 2-1.
In the 2nd, the Dodgers surged into the lead with a crooked number. A Pollock single, Max Muncy walk, and Joc Pederson single loaded the bases with no outs, and Matt Beaty proceeded to do Chase Utley proud by taking an 0-2 breaking ball to the foot to tie things at 2-2.
With one down, Betts brought another run in with a dunk single, but Joc was thrown out at the plate. That made it 3-2, but not for long, as Corey Seager unloaded on a pitch for a three-run shot to make it 6-2.
Kyle Seager bringing the shit-eating grin.
When you're definitely not owned. pic.twitter.com/WmxJfoMgdo
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 18, 2020
As mentioned, Chicken Strip got cooked today. In the 3rd, he gave a crooked number right back. A single and then back-to-back homers from Kyle Lewis and Corey’s brother cut the lead to 6-5. After another single, Evan White drilled a two-run shot to give the Mariners a 7-6 lead.
Stripling lasted just three innings on a not-so-nice 69 pitches, giving up seven runs (six earned) on eight hits, walking none and striking out two.
Dylan Floro relieved him in the 4th and got two easy outs before giving up three singles in a row to make it 8-6 to the Mariners.
Adam Kolarek took over in the 5th and actually got five outs, including two strikeouts before being relieved. He’s being used more and more like the OOTP version of Dave Roberts wanted, which … I dunno about that, man. Anyway, Caleb Ferguson relieved him and got four outs, only allowing a walk while striking out two.
After not cashing in two singles in the 4th and then a walk and a single in the 6th, the Dodgers got every break they could in the 7th. Seager smashed a single off a glove, Justin Turner took advantage of a dropped foul to single, Cody Bellinger walked, and then Pollock followed with a ground-ball single for a run that was a double play anywhere else. Muncy followed by drawing a walk on a check swing that was … well.
That tied the game, and they got the lead on a Joc double play to make it 9-8. Fortunately, Enrique Hernandez destroyed a ball to left for a 11-8 lead.
Pedro Baez took over in the the 8th and immediately surrendered a dinger to make it 11-9, it was White’s second of the night. He rebounded by getting the next three hitters, including a strikeout.
After the Dodgers blew a bases loaded chance in their half of the 8th, Kenley Jansen was tasked with the 9th. He was victimized by a bloop single to start, and then issued a walk to get into serious trouble. Kenley rebounded by notching a strikeout, a pop foul, and a sky-high fly out to right to end it.
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The win improves the Dodgers to 17-7 on the year, and with the Rockies losing, the NL West lead is 3 games.
They’ll go for the home sweep against the Mariners tomorrow at 1:10 PM HST/4:10 PM PST/7:10 PM EST. Tony Gonsolin will face Marco Gonzalez.
