Dodgers: Grandal Walks It Off in the Tenth Behind Dozier’s Stellar Debut
If you were lucky enought o be in attendance at Wednesday night’s game, congratualtiosn. You witnessed the new look Dodgers offense take over a game late. The game may have gone ten innings, but the high powered Los Angeles offense showed off their potential for the remainder of the year.
.@BrianDozier seems to be enjoying Hollywood. pic.twitter.com/ItcGIUj2DI
— MLB (@MLB) August 2, 2018
The Offense
It took them a while to get going in this one, but boy did they ever get going. Grandal led things off with a solo laser to right in the fifth inning. That was Grandal’s 18th home run of the year and came when the Dodgers did not have a baserunner at all in the game. Brian Dozier followed up on the very next pitch with a home run of his own. That was Dozier’s first as a Dodger and his 17th of the year. Speaking of Dozier, what a debut. He ended up going 3 for 4 with a single, a double, and a home run. Not to mention playing great defense at second.
Yasiel Puig gave the team the lead in the 7th on a single that drove in Dozier. Kiké Hernandez followed up with a bunt that scored Taylor from third and gave the Dodgers a 4-2 lead after seven. After the bullpen relinquished the lead, Grandal ended up finishing off the game with a walk-off two run blast in the tenth inning, his 19th home run of the year.
The Defense
Rich Hill pitched well, despite some misplays from his defense eary on in the game. He tossed six innings and allowed just one earned run while striking out four batters. Over his past three starts, Hill has allowed just two earned runs and thrown 18 innnngs. He has also struck out 21 batters in that time while walking 6.
JT Cahrgois followed Hill in relief and tossed a scoreless inning himself. He did get into a little bit of trouble though, allowing two hits. The real trouble came when Scott Alexander came in to pitch the 8th inning. He surrendered two runs and the game was tied after a series of walks and hits. Alexander walked three batters and gave up two hits in the process.
Kenley Jansen and Dylan Floro pitched the 9th and 10th innings respectively and were dominant. Kenley walked a batter, but that was the only baserunner between the two.
Looking Ahead
The Dodgers will look to split the series with Milwaukee tonight as Clayton Kershaw takes the hill for Los Angeles. Kershaw pitched to a 1.95 earned run average in the month of July, spanning five starts. His last start in Atltanta was probably his best of the year, allowing one run through 7.2 innings of work. Jhoulys Chacin will take the hill for Milwaukee, and he also had a great month of July. He gave up just one run against San Francisco in his last start.
Game Preview: Dodgers Look to Split Series as Justin Turner Makes Return
Scott Alexander MUST go. He blew the lead last night in this game – three damn walks plus two hits! I have seen him walk the FIRST left-handed batter he was brought in to face TWICE in the last week. DISGUSTING!
Get a reliable leftie relief pitcher who will not sabotage the starters!