Editorials

Dodgers’ Bats Explode to Take Back First Place

The Dodgers and Cardinals were back at it early Saturday afternoon for the third game of their series. The boys in blue came out swinging early and never really looked back as they took first place in the NL West.

Yasiel Puig was certainly the player of the game in this one, crushing three home runs and driving in seven. He is hitting 381 in the month with five homeruns in his last two games alone. Puig catching fire in the middle of a battle for the west couldn’t be better timing for Los Angeles.

Puig was not the only one with a big day, as the Dodgers chalked up 17 runs on 16 hits in this game. Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson, and Justin Turner had three hits of their own, with a homerun from Belly. Cody would finish with six RBI’s of his own. Manny Machado kicked off the scoring barrage quickly by crushing an opposite field two-run shot in the first inning.

Interestingly enough, only four Dodgers drove in runs, despite scoring 17 runs.

Defense Wins Championships

Rich Hill got the start in this one and looked sharp early. He had great command of the zone and his curve had great movement all afternoon. He got into trouble in the fourth though, after walking three straight Cardinal hitters. Patrick Wisdom came up with the bases juiced and absolutely demolished a hanging curveball into left field. That put the red birds up, if only for a moment. Hill finished with five innings and eight strikeouts to go along with the four runs allowed.

Dylan Floro followed up Hill with a scoreless inning of relief. This marks the 12th straight appearance for Floro without allowing a run. He has pitched 10.2 innings and struck out eleven in that time frame.

Pedro Baez followed with a scoreless inning of his own. Ryan Madson, in desperate need of some good results, also pitched a scoreless inning. The came a huge moment in the game. Julio Urias, out since May 2017 with a shoulder injury, came on to close this one out. He pitched a perfect inning and earned himself a strikeout. Urias will not be a part of the playoff bullpen, but it was an encouraging appearance nonetheless.

Looking Ahead

The best news of the day is that the Dodgers were able to retake first place in the west, if only for a moment. They still have another game with St Louis tomorrow, and they will send Ross Stripling to the hill looking for the sweep. The Cardinals will send veteran Adam Wainwright out to try and stop the bleeding. \

Just thirteen games remaining in the regular season Dodgers Nation, hold on to your butts.

Alex Wood Sent to ‘Pen, Stripling to Take His Spot

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