So far this season the Dodgers have struggled to score runs when they need to and then they explode and score more runs than they need to win a game. This was the case with their most recent series with the San Diego Padres.
With Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. leading the way, the San Diego Padres a good team this year. They aren’t what Dodger fans have been used to for the past decade or so.
The Dodgers dropped the first two games after being absolutely dismal at the plate. In the famous words of Tommy Lasorda, “You couldn’t hit water even if you fell out of a boat.”
The first game of the series was started by Dustin May and he has been nothing but stellar so far this year. His pitches are great to watch and it is even better when he embarrasses Manny Machado with nasty inside two seamers.
Despite going six innings, Dustin May gave up two earned runs that would eventually seal the deal and give the Padres the win. Those runs came from an Austin Hedges solo home run and an Eric Hosmer RBI single.
The Dodgers were held to one run and that was a RBI single from Cody Bellinger. Other than that, the game was extremely drawn out and the Dodgers could only manage four hits on the night. They would lose the game 2-1.
On Tuesday night, Ross Stripling took the mound looking for his fourth win of the season.
He had a clean first inning and even struck out the red hot Fernando Tatis Jr. However, Stripling would eventually implode in the third inning by walking a couple batters and giving up a grand slam to Manny Machado.
Not to mention the Dodgers defense was very poor in Tuesday’s game. The Dodgers recorded two errors on the night.
Following the meltdown of the third inning, Jurickson Profar hit a solo home run off or Stripling to extend the Padres lead to 6-1.
The Dodgers runs came from a Chris Taylor RBI single in the second innings and a RBI single from Austin Barnes in the bottom of the ninth. The Dodgers would lose their second consecutive game 6-2.
Wednesday night was a whole other story for the Dodgers. Their bats finally woke up and Tony Gonsolin’s second start of the season proved why he should be there full time.
Tony Gonsolin was recalled from the alternative training site at USC and pitched 4.2 scoreless innings against the Padres. In that outing he struck out eight batters and only walked one. His fastball reached 97 MPH at times and was higher than his average of 93 MPH.
From there, the Dodgers bullpen came in and did what they have done best this season: Not allow a run.
Treinen, Baez, Graterol, Alexander and Jansen all combined to shut down the Padres.
Blake Treinen and Scott Alexander are one of the many Dodgers relievers who have yet to allow an earned run this season.
The Dodgers offense played small ball to score half of their runs. An RBI single from Edwin Rios scored AJ Pollock and a sacrifice bunt from Austin Barnes scored Chris Taylor.
Later, Cody Bellinger would hit a ground rule double to score Austin Barnes and Justin Turner would hit a 3-Run home run to give the Dodgers some much needed insurance.
The Dodgers won 6-0 and started a new win streak.
The series finale against the Padres was quite the finale. The air was hot and the balls were flying out for both teams.
Julio Urias gave up two solo home runs back to back in the top of the first inning but then settled down after by only allowing three more hits until he was pulled from the game in the seventh inning with one out.
From there, Dennis Santana was brought in for 1.3 innings and was able to lower his ERA. Then Jake McGee and Dylan Floro came in to secure the victory for the Dodgers. Jake McGee and Dylan Floro are another set of relievers that have yet to allow a single earned run this season.
The scoring started quick and early for the Dodgers.
Corey Seager who had missed the last four games was back in the lineup and his thunderous bat hit a 2-run home run in his first trip to the plate. Followed by a AJ Pollock solo home run.
In the second inning, Mookie Betts hit a 2-run home run for his fifth of the season. Later, he would hit his sixth and seventh home runs tying him with Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa all time for having SIX career three home run games.
The red hot AJ Pollock doubled to score Justin Turner in the bottom of the third inning and Austin Barnes hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.
All together, the Dodgers wound up hitting five home runs and winning the game 11-2.
The potential of this Dodgers team is great. They can really turn it on and get going when they need to. That need should be there all the time, though. The Dodgers are already through a 1/3 of their season and need to keep this momentum going.
The boys in blue take a trip up the five freeway today and will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Dustin May are lined up to face this dangerous Angels lineup.
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