Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After taking the first game and the final two games of a four-game series against the Pirates, the Dodgers have their first series win against the team in 2021. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but considering the strengths of the two teams it’s pretty remarkable.
Today a 5-2 win was powered by a pair of homers, as Julio Urias bounced back from his rough start to the year.
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Pirates starter Johan Oviedo has been a rotation staple for them all year, but he got off to a rough start tonight when Mookie Betts led the game off with a double and Freddie Freeman followed by immediately drilling his 15th homer into the right-field bullpen for a 2-0 lead.
After Mookie led off with a double, Freddie dingered into the pen. pic.twitter.com/DFOfyMfEr2
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 7, 2023
Meanwhile, Urias was looking to get back to his 2022 form, and he started well with a clean 1st that had a pair of strikeouts. However in the 2nd he was victimized by his own teammates, as a one-out single was followed by a Jack Suwinski “double” that David Peralta badly misread, and a Nick Gonzalez bouncing double down the line followed that to make it 2-2.
David Peralta Oops pic.twitter.com/U0Rke2t3S5
— Mad Choriyama (@MadChoriyama) July 7, 2023
After a strikeout and a groundout followed, Urias should’ve been out of the inning without a run coming in, but it was a tie game.
That said, following the double Julio actually then immediately went on a run of 11 straight batters retired before a walk in the 6th. He retired all three batters that followed the free pass as well, with the runner only reaching second on a stolen base.
Probably would’ve gone seven shutout without the mistake: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 88 Pitches.
Julio struck out eight and probably should've had six shutout. pic.twitter.com/aBdqVpRTIK
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 7, 2023
Fortunately, he was in line for the win, despite Oviedo settling down as well. He cruised through the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in order, and probably would’ve done the same in the 5th had their fielders not lost a “double” in the sky that he worked around capably.
The 6th proved to be the difference in the game, as Freddie led off the inning with a double and then Max Muncy made Oviedo pay for trying to double up on an elevated fastball, smashing his 20th homer of the year for a 4-2 lead.
Max Muncy missed the first fastball, he didn't miss the second as he powers the Dodgers to the lead. pic.twitter.com/5Oz9snq6jn
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 7, 2023
While it didn’t look like insurance was going to come in the 7th, with two out Mookie doubled to knocked Oviedo out of the game. The bullpen provided no relief, as Freddie singled for a 5-2 lead.
Freddie collects his third hit of the day, driving in Mookie's double for insurance. He also stole second. pic.twitter.com/BGF1HnBtZ0
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 7, 2023
As for the pen operating on fumes right now, it was Nick Robertson in the 7th, and all he did was strikeout the side.
Brusdar Graterol and his ailing shoulder appeared in the 8th, and after an infield single that bounced off Graterol’s glove, he induced a double play and got a three-pitch strikeout for a quick inning.
Brusdar Graterol sees the minimum by inducing a Freddie-Mookie-Freddie double play and then a GM/GA/GN strikeout. He is pleased. pic.twitter.com/EAs4Hu5en7
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 7, 2023
Meanwhile, it was Alex Vesia for the save in the 9th, and he thankfully didn’t cause drama, inducing a foul pop, groundout, and a strikeout.
Easy peasy.
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| NL WEST | RECORD |
|---|---|
| Diamondbacks | 50-38 |
| Dodgers | 49-38 (0.5 GB) |
| Giants | 47-40 (2.5 GB) |
*Either still playing or will play later.
The Dodgers will now start a two-games series against the Angels in the Freeway Series (at home), starting at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET with Tony Gonsolin facing Griffin Canning.
