Dodgers Highlights: Max Muncy Hits First Homer in a Month, Pitching Battles, Unsung Heros Produce
Coming off an embarrassing loss in Kansas City, the Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-to-2.
Before the game, the Dodgers put Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation. Kershaw hoped to miss a start, but the Dodgers’ pitching staff couldn’t handle this. This season, Dodger pitching has missed most days on the IL of any Major-League team. Michael Grove replaced Kershaw Monday.
Grove pitched four innings and allowed a run while striking out three. He was constantly in trouble with allowing five hits and walking two. He had a good changeup, helping him strike out 3 batters over 4 inning. While the Dodgers wished Grove would go longer, Grove limited the damage.
Max Muncy blasted his 19th homer of the season to lead off the second inning. After David Peralta doubled, he scored on Jason Heyward’s double. After Miguel Rojas singled and Mookie Betts walked, the Dodgers loaded the bases, but Freddie Freeman’s grounder ended the threat.
YEEEESH https://t.co/biY43bZWG0
— Walker Buehler (@buehlersdayoff) July 4, 2023
In the fourth, after Miguel Vargas was hit by a pitch, Rojas doubled him in. Peralta doubled in Freeman, who singled, in the fifth. Heyward reached on an error by first baseman Carlos Santana and Will Smith scored.
Miggy squared. pic.twitter.com/OREq0yjxe8
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 4, 2023
David Peralta is hitting .403 since June 1. He is 2-for-3 tonight, including that RBI single to give the #Dodgers a 4-1 lead.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 4, 2023
Dodger pitching was superb on Monday. Caleb Ferguson pitched a scoreless fifth. Ryan Brasier gave up two weak hits and a walk to load the bases and allowed a run but escaped the sixth. Brusdar Graterol pitched a perfect seventh, and Daniel Hudson hurled a scoreless eighth. Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 12th save.
Up Next
The Dodgers look to make it two in a row against the Pirates with rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan on Tuesday