Dodgers Postgame: Julio Urias and Will Smith Shine in Another LA Win at Coors
The Dodgers have been one of baseball’s best teams this season, and their current 8-game road trip will be a good test as they look to build their lead in the NL West. After a 13-0 blowout to open the series against Colorado, the boys in Blue escaped with a 5-4 victory in what was a very different ballgame Friday night.
Julio Shines Once Again
In the midst of the best statistical season of his career, Julio Urías delivered for the Dodgers in this game. A rough second inning didn’t stop the young lefty from getting through the seventh, which included a stretch in which he faced just one over the minimum across 4 innings.
Offensive Inconsistency
After putting up 13 runs in the series opener, it looked like it could be another offensive explosion for the Dodgers after scoring 5 in the first three innings. That would be all they would get, however, as the Rockies bullpen shut them down the rest of the way.
A five-run lead is never safe in Coors Field, but it proved to be just enough this time around. Still, leaving 26 runners on base is not a stat to write home about. The Dodgers will need to work on their situational hitting if they want to play deep into October once again.
One bright spot in the lineup recently, however, has been Trayce Thompson. The newest Dodger has continued to hit the ball hard, and his second-inning home run was no different.
Trayce Thompson can't be stopped. pic.twitter.com/M0HgfgAJf5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 30, 2022
Will Smith Heating Up
While the offense as a whole struggled on Friday night, Will Smith might want to extend his stay in Denver with the way he has performed. After a 1-24 stretch coming out of the All-Star Game, Smith has gone 4-8 with 5 RBI in the first two games in Colorado. This is nothing new for him, however, as he’s delivered at Coors Field throughout his career.
Will Smith's career at Coors Field: .339/.423/.694/1.112
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 30, 2022
Cardiac Kimbrel
Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel entered the ninth inning with LA leading 5-2. After inducing a ground out from Charlie Blackmon, four of the next five hitters reached and the Rockies caught the lead down to one. Kimbrel would get out of the jam thanks to a great catch in foul territory by Trace Thompson. It was yet another rocky appearance from Kimbrel this year.
Up Next
The Dodgers have two more games in Colorado before a rematch with the San Francisco Giants next week. It has been an overly positive start to an 8-game road trip for LA, and they will hope to continue their winning ways as they jockey for the best record in baseball.
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Crediting Kimbrel with a save in last night’s game is an indicator that it might be time for MLB to revisit what qualifies as a save. In many if not most 9th inning situations giving up two runs is either a blown save or a loss. Kimbrel is fortunate he was given a three run cushion to work with
Roberts/Friedman need to find another Closer option
The bull pen’s problems are obvious and if not resolved will be as bad for this club’s chances to get through the playoffs, as their horrible amount of runners in scoring position left on base.
Wish we could cut Kimbrel. Your lights out closers do not have an Era above 4. They do not constantly let several runs score with the tying or winning runs at the plate. If we don’t fix our Kimbrel situation we won’t even get to the world series.
1 out of 12 with runners in scoring position. Very poor. Even worse, Kimbrel loading the bases, then giving up 2 run single in 9th. He is not the closer we need. Start looking in to pen. There’s someone who could do it, Vesia, Phillips, Almonte, etc. Wake up Dave!!!!
What’s it going to take before Roberts goes to another closer? Kimbrel is SO much worse than Jansen was in 2020 but Roberts seems determined to make him work. When Kimbrel loaded the based last night I couldn’t watch. In spite of the Dodgers escaping a loss in the ninth last night, in my mind they still lost that game because of the poor decision by Roberts not to get Kimbrel out of there once he loaded the bases. It was inexcusable to keep him in there after he gave up two runs. I have to wonder what goes on in Roberts brain with some of the bone headed decisions he makes. Truly mystifying.