Dodgers 2, Rockies 1: Max Muncy provides all the offense again, as Clayton Kershaw makes successful return

Chad Moriyama 08/10/2023 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

A pitchers’ duel emerging from the Dodgers and Rockies in 2023 seemed like an unlikely thing by the odds, but looking at the two pitchers on the mound tonight made that make more sense. A pair of solo homers accounted for the only runs for most of the game, as the two teams played a tight affair, but it was a bases loaded walk late that won it for the Dodgers in a 2-1 win.

The Dodgers have now won five in a row and nine of their last 10.

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Clayton Kershaw returned to the Dodgers tonight, and quite frankly it looked like he never left. While he was on a pitch count that limited how long he could go into the game, he was just as effective as ever.

He faced just two at-bats with RISP all game long, which followed a one-out double in the 2nd, and Kershaw proceeded to strikeout two in a row. However, with two outs in the 5th, Elehuris Montero took him deep on a slider to make it 1-0.

That close to a scoreless outing, as he was removed after five and 67 pitches in his return start.

Still, an impressive and hopeful outing for this rotation: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 67 Pitches.

Also, a new pitch?

Of course, he exited down in the game because old nemesis Ty Blach was still on his bullshit even with a new team.

Things looked like they might change in the 1st after a one-out Freddie Freeman double was followed by an Amed Rosario single to corner the runners. However, Max Muncy grounded into a rare double play to end the threat, and indicated how this was gonna go.

After that, Blach never allowed a runner past first base, as he carved through the Dodgers lineup over the next six innings as well.

Thing is, right after that graphic, he was left in for the 7th to face Muncy, who is struggling something awful against lefties this year.

Well, guess what happened?

That’s Max Muncy’s 28th of the year and knocked Blach out of the game, not to mention tying the game at 1-1.

Getting to the Rockies pen is a good thing, but things didn’t collapse immediately, as a Chris Taylor single in the 7th was erased thanks to a crazy double play for a clean inning.

Meanwhile, taking over for Kershaw was Ryan Yarbrough, who gave up a single and picked off the runner in an interesting battle in the 6th.

And he then proceeded to notch clean frames in the 7th and 8th, getting his Dodgers career off to a stellar start.

The 8th for the Dodgers started with a David Peralta walk, and Jason Heyward beat out a double play ball to replace him at first. Heyward then took off for second as Mookie Betts singled to center to corner the runners. After a Freeman walk loaded the bases, Will Smith pinch-hit and he got robbed of a go-ahead single by Ezequiel Tovar.

Fortunately, it was followed by Muncy drawing a two-out walk to put the Dodgers ahead 2-1, though the Dodgers were unable to tack on more after.

With Evan Phillips down, Brusdar Graterol was handed the keys to the closer role, and he cruised through a 13-pitch frame that included two weak groundouts and a strikeout.

Let’s go.

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NL WESTRECORD
Dodgers68-46
Giants62-53 (6.5 GB)

*Either still playing or will play later.

I love homestands because the games are usually at the same time on weekdays, and tomorrow is no exception at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. It’ll be Lance Lynn taking the mound looking to continue to eating innings, facing off against one of the guys traded for Nolan Arenado in Austin Gomber.

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