Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After a brief skid against the Cardinals that saw their streak of six series victories in a row snapped, the Dodgers have now won the first two against the Braves to take this series thanks to a 8-1 victory tonight.
Of course, a hopeful debut was the star today.
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Spencer Strider is just about as good a pitcher as you’ll find in baseball today, and the Dodgers were up for the challenge immediately. Mookie Betts led the game off with a double down the line in left, and he advanced to third on a grounder that moved him over from Freddie Freeman. Against a drawn-in infield, Will Smith poked a groundball right up the middle to make it 1-0.
Will Smith singles in the game's first run. pic.twitter.com/zeARlAgjuc
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 23, 2023
That lead didn’t last long, though. As far as MLB debuts go, Bobby Miller got a tough assignment. Things started well with two quick outs, but a single and then an Austin Riley double on an 0-2 fastball tied the game at 1-1.
Bobby Miller's first MLB pitch. pic.twitter.com/070tqyul1T
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 23, 2023
Fortunately, the Dodgers came right back in the 2nd against Strider. Jason Heyward stepped up and took the first pitch he saw back in Atlanta in a Dodgers uniform deep to right for his 5th homer of the year and a 2-1 lead.
Frantically turning a dial between "Heyward fixed" and "Heyward washed" based on which one of his random streaks he's on.
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 23, 2023
A pair of strikeouts followed that, but then Miguel Rojas hit a grounder to first off his hands and Matt Olson literally kicked it into the wall for an error.
Can I kick it? pic.twitter.com/q4hePgA7N0
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 23, 2023
That didn’t seem like a big deal at the time, but it became one after Mookie drew a seven-pitch walk, both runners advanced on a wild pitch, they issued an intentional walk against Freddie, and Dills made them pay with a two-run single to push the lead to 4-1.
After an intentional walk of Freddie Freeman, Will Smith comes through with his second RBI hit of the day, a double with the bases loaded. pic.twitter.com/UVOBdYd2Rh
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 23, 2023
Olson truly is the MVP here, because the Dodgers didn’t get much else against Strider, who worked through the 6th and gave up just a walk and a single from the 3rd through 6th frames.
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Credit to Miller, who never really looked out of place. He worked around a lead-off single in the 2nd, a lead-off walk and stolen base in the 3rd, and a one-out double and wild pitch in the 4th with some help from Max Muncy.
Max Muncy saves a run with a diving stop. pic.twitter.com/kYpE7bFieF
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
In the 5th, well past his season high in pitches, he had his best inning. It was the first 1-2-3 frame of his career, and he punctuated it with a pair of strikeouts.
Bobby Miller's impressive MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/Vl6gmtAcLF
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
That it was a quality start is a bonus, but getting through five is great: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 95 Pitches.
"I put all my trust in Will, he's a great catcher. He called an amazing game, I didn't shake him off once. He took me to the promise land but getting the first pitch of the game as an out really helped me settle in." @BMilled15 on his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/b4aMfa0tYC
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) May 24, 2023
In relief of him was Yency Almonte for the second straight game, and I continue to pray he has found whatever was ailing him. While it took him 20 pitches, he struck out the side in order in the 6th and certainly looked like his 2022 self at times.
Yency back? pic.twitter.com/sGHibW87RY
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
As the Braves pen entered for Strider, so did the runs return for the Dodgers. Betts again got things started with a lead-off walk in the 7th, a Smith single (his third hit) put a pair of runners on, and Muncy came through by drilling a ball off the wall in right for a single to plate a run. The combination of Acuna out there and the hard carom kept it from a better result, but it was 5-1 nevertheless.
Max Muncy with one of the longest singles for insurance. pic.twitter.com/ctq5exs3iP
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
In the 7th, Brusdar Graterol entered and lowered his ERA to 2.18 after a scoreless inning. He gave up a single and also did … whatever this is.
Brusdar Graterol bare hands a comebacker for some flair? Wander Franco impact. pic.twitter.com/fFqV1gdA8T
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
Following him, it was Evan Phillips against the heart of the Braves order in the 8th, and he worked around a two-out walk and wild pitch to put up a 0.
Meanwhile, the Braves pen worked around an error to start the 8th, but the 9th made this an easy one. A one-out single from Freeman was followed by a two-out walk from Muncy and then J.D. Martinez smashed a three-run shot to left, his 9th of the year to make it 8-1.
Just Dingers had five of them since he came off the IL. It's a seven-run lead now. pic.twitter.com/euzHxtBztk
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
To close things out, it was Victor Gonzalez, who got a fly out, ground out, and strikeout to end it.
Ova. pic.twitter.com/NUxZbsVEpX
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
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Marcell Ozuna hit Will Smith again, lol. Christ.
Enjoyed the discussion about how it's the job of the first batters to push the chalk back against hard throwers. pic.twitter.com/2FghhGwXbV
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 24, 2023
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 31-19 |
| Diamondbacks | 29-20 (1.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The series concludes tomorrow at 1:20 PM HT/4:20 PM PT/7:20 PM ET with Tony Gonsolin (1.13 ERA/3.45 xERA/5.21 DRA) facing Bryce Elder (2.06/4.57/4.13). Probably their best matchup of the series, so I’m terrified because baseball.
