Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After yesterday’s free win for the Rays, the Dodgers came back today and won a closely fought affair by a 6-5 final to even the series.
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Cillian Murphy doppelganger Tyler Glasnow made his season debut today after suffering from an oblique strain in Spring Training, and it was just his fourth appearance in almost two years as he returns from Tommy John surgery in 2021.
His stuff looked excellent, as he struck out five over the first two innings, but also allowed a no-doubter to Max Muncy in the 2nd. It was his 16th dong of the year and made it 1-0.
Max Muncy re-enacts the 2020 World Series. pic.twitter.com/qroHCaGNjQ
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
After Glasnow worked around a two-out double in the 3rd, he allowed back-to-back doubles to J.D. Martinez and Muncy to start the 4th. A groundout advanced Muncy to third, and he eventually scored on a wild pitch for a 3-0 lead.
Glasnow ended up striking out eight in just 4.1 innings in his season debut.
Clayton Kershaw is back from the bereavement list after the passing of his mother, though he didn’t even miss a start. Prior to leaving, Kershaw had back-to-back rough starts, though obviously I don’t think anybody would blame him for being distracted.
Things started rather bizarrely, as he allowed a single that he then balked to second, seemingly on a move that he’s done for over a decade now.
When do they ever call this a balk? pic.twitter.com/On3eZujnK2
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
But Kershaw didn’t allow anything else that inning, and he got a clean 2nd as well.
The 3rd wasn’t as tidy, as there was a lead-off single that advanced on a wild pitch with two outs. That seemed fine when it appeared Will Smith threw the runner out trying to steal third, but the call was overturned and all of a sudden the runners were cornered because the pitch resulted in a walk. Thankfully, Kershaw managed to refocus and got a groundout to end the inning.
Things were unfortunately a lot simpler in the 4th, as a walk and double set the table for a Manuel Margot single to plate both runners and make it 3-2.
In retrospect, perhaps that 3rd inning was a sign the Rays were getting comfortable, as the 5th led to further damage. After a foul pop that was chased by Freddie Freeman dropped, Wander Franco singled and Harold Ramirez followed by homering to put the Rays in front 4-3.
It was a short outing for Kershaw, though he could’ve got another inning: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 83 Pitches.
Yency Almonte took over for Kershaw in the 6th, and got a nine-pitch 1-2-3 frame, though it did include a pair of lineouts.
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Meanwhile, the Rays pen allowed just a walk in relief of Glasnow in the 5th and got a clean 6th, but Colin Poche struggled in the 7th.
After Trayce Thompson ran his hitless streak to 0-for-39, Miguel Rojas singled to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Mookie Betts promptly followed with a single of his own to tie the game. Betts then stole second and Freddie made it pay off with a double into the oppo gap for the 5-4 lead. Despite another wild pitch that advanced Freddie to third with one out, they were not able to take advantage.
After Mookie steals second, Freddie Freeman follows with a double for the lead. pic.twitter.com/aaGbJqd7xC
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
Trevor Kelley seemed to fare better in the 8th, as he started with back-to-back strikeouts, but Miguel Vargas turned one around for his 5th homer of the year and some insurance at 6-4.
That was it for the Dodgers offense, but it was enough.
Miguel Vargas gets the foot down, as Dontrelle would say. pic.twitter.com/YNqGlLoLk2
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
For the Dodgers, it was Brusdar Graterol in the 7th, and he had a 1-2-3 inning that took 19 pitches. Evan Phillips then got the 8th, and while he allowed a two-out single, that was all he coughed up.
Evan Phillips gets Randy Arozarena on three pitches. pic.twitter.com/EcFj0ttUpr
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
Surprisingly, Phillips came back out for the 9th and got the inning’s first out.
However, he was then removed for Caleb Ferguson, presumably due to pitch count. That started shakily, as he immediately allowed a double, but he bounced back with a strikeout. Ferguson then walked the tying run and Franco followed with a single to make it 6-5 and leave the runners cornered.
Thankfully, after making everybody shit themselves, Caleb induced a grounder to end the game … on a snow cone by Vargas.
Only a snow cone between one and perdition. pic.twitter.com/ZOzpRN1sZs
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 27, 2023
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Dodgers | 32-21 |
| Diamondbacks | 29-22 (2 GB)* |
*Either still playing or will play later.
I cannot stress how miserable a 5:35 AM HT/8:35 AM PT/11:35 PM ET start time is but it being on Peacock makes it even worse. A shame that it’s an interesting prospect matchup of Gavin Stone (10.13 ERA/7.14 xERA/6.03 DRA) and Taj Bradley (4.44/3.11/3.92).
