Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After yesterday’s loss to the hated Astros, the Dodgers turned to new acquisition Max Scherzer to even the series, and along with a bunch of homers they salvaged a split with a 7-5 win thanks to his brilliance.
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All eyes were on Scherzer, who was recently acquired and hilariously happened to make his debut against the Astros. Things started well with a strikeout of Jose Altuve, but then they didn’t as Michael Brantley ended the fun with a solo shot in the 1st. However, that basically be the end of what he allowed the Astros. Sure, in the 4th, he gave up two singles for another run, but one was against the shift and one was a bloop.
Other than that, he was basically dominant, stifling the Astros with his impressive array of stuff: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 10 K, 109 Pitches.
A well deserved standing ovation.
As you can see in those highlights, unlike last night, the Dodgers actually scored in this one to back the pitcher! In fact, it took just one batter for Jake Odorizzi to give up a run thanks to a Mookie Betts lead-off homer.
After a Max Muncy walk and Corey Seager reaching on an error, Will Smith extended the lead to 4-1 with a 3-run homer.
Mookie kept things going in the 2nd, homering for the second time in as many at-bats to make it 5-1.
The Dodgers kept piling on in the 3rd, scoring again after a two-out Chris Taylor walk and AJ Pollock staying absolutely scorching hot with a missile to make it 7-1.
Joe Kelly took over in the 8th for an eventful inning, striking out the first two batters, including sticking Altuve with a golden sombrero, but after a fan interference play he gave up a homer to Carlos Correa of all people to cut the lead to 7-3.
Kenley Jansen entered in the 9th trying to lock things down but continued to struggle. He gave up a lead-off single and then surrendered a no-doubter to right to Kyle Tucker to make it 7-5 all of a sudden. Thankfully, he bounced back by striking out the next three batters to lock down the win.
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The Dodgers are 65-44 on the year and remain 3.5 games back of the Giants in the NL West.
After a day off tomorrow, they’ll welcome the Angels in a Freeway Series starting at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with David Price starting against Patrick Sandoval.
