Roger Arrieta
LOS ANGELES—It was a “ho hum”, just another series-clinching win for the Dodgers on Thursday over Oakland. Los Angeles never trailed against the A’s in the third game of the 3-game series, scored the first five runs of the game and put it in cruise control to win 5-1.
The victory gives the Dodgers two of the three against one of the Top 3 teams in the American League and earns LA its 14th series win of the year. The Dodgers also become the first team in MLB to win 40 games on the season. Los Angeles is 40-17 and has won seven of its last nine games. Oakland has now lost three times in its last four games – the first time all season they have done that – and falls to 34-22.
GAME RECAP: The best 2-out hitting team in the NL added to its total in the first inning when Will Smith came through with a run-scoring single to left that brought home Mookie Betts after Betts led off the game with a base knock on the very first pitch. Smith’s RBI single was his 21st of the year and it gave the Dodgers the early 1-0 lead – a lead they would never relinquish.
Corey Seager doubled the lead in the third when he connected on a lazy, hanging breaking ball and belted it into the left-center seats. The 407-foot special was his 15th of the year. The big inning for LA came in the sixth when the Dodgers loaded the bases to start the inning and finished by plating three runs. A pair of doubles from Smith and Cody Bellinger doubles and a walk to A.J. Pollock (you read that correctly, Smith doubled and then got a horrible read off of Bellinger’s double and could only move up to third) loaded the bases. Kiké Hernández punched a single to right to score Smith and Chris Taylor earned a 6-pitch walk to push Bellinger home. Seager got the final RBI of the frame with a warning-track sacrifice fly that scored Pollock.
The lone run of the game for the A’s came in the eighth when No.9 hitter Sean Murphy went yard against reliever Jake McGee.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
IF THE PLAYOFFS ENDED TODAY: If the playoffs ended after Thursday’s games, the Dodgers would be hosting old-rime rival San Francisco. The Giants jumped into the No.8 spot after Milwaukee lost to St. Louis. The Giants are now 28-28 on the year while the Brewers are 27-29.
CAN WE PLAY THE AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL THE TIME? The Dodgers are now 13-4 against the American League this year. The 13 wins in interleague play are tied with San Diego for the most in the majors this year. LA’s winning percentage (.765) is better than the Padres (.650) who have finished with their games against the AL this year. If LA can win all three games vs. the Angels, they will tie their all-time win total in interleague play in a season. Los Angeles was 16-4 in 2017. The Dodgers have won at least 12 games against AL teams in five different seasons (2002, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2020).
LORDY, LORDY LOOK WHO HAS 40: Los Angeles becomes the first team to win 40 games on the year. The win also makes sure that the Dodgers will at least share the best record in baseball in 2020. It is the seventh time in club history they have had the best record in a season and it will also be the second time in the last four years that they have had the best regular-season record. Good news for the Dodgers, they made the World Series in the six previous years posted the best regular-season record.
SERIES STUFF: The Dodgers are now 14-1-4 in series this year. They are also 5-0-1 in series against AL teams.
DODGER STADIUM DANDIES: Los Angeles is now 18-9 at home this year. The 18 wins at Chavez Ravine are tied for the most home wins on the year with Atlanta (18-9).
OBSCURE STATS OF THE NIGHT or CAN THE PLAYOFFS START ON THURSDAY?: The Dodgers are now 9-1 in games played on a Thursday. If you are wondering for next Wednesday’s playoff start, LA is 6-2 in games played on Wednesdays. The wild card round will be played on Wednesday-Thursday-Friday and the Dodgers have a combined 20-5 in those days this season.
BUEHTANE’S BLISTER IS BETTER: Walker Buehler went 4.0 innings and made 65 pitches in his first start since going on the IL with a blister on his pitching hand. The verdict? Bring on the playoffs. Buehler dipped into all the pitches in his tool box and allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out six. He faced the minimum number of batters through his first three innings and then allowed a 2-out walk before getting the final out on a strikeout. It was his second scoreless outing in his last three starts. Buehler has put together a solid September. He now has a 1.54 ERA with a 0.69 WHIP in his 11.2 innings in the month of September.
PEN POWER: You can chalk up another “W” for the Blue Pen. Dylan Floro took over for Buehler and pitched a scoreless fifth to earn his third win of the year. He is 3-0 in 2020. The victory is the 24th season for the bullpen which leads all of MLB. LA’s relievers also lead MLB in WHIP (1.05) and are tied for opponent’s batting average against (.208).
MAKE IT FOUR TOUCHDOWNS: Turner’s on-base streak continued to grow. He went 2-for-4 and has now reached safely in 28 straight games. That is the longest active streak in the majors. Turner is now hitting .303 on the year and he is looking to record his third season with an average over .300. Turner hit a career-high .322 in 2017 and had a .312 average in 2018.
DINGER DATA: Seager’s long ball gave the Dodgers 108 for the season which leads MLB. LA is now 36-10 when they go yard in a game which means they have left the yard in all but 11 games this year. Seager’s HR also led off the inning which gives Los Angeles 31 taters when starting an inning – and yes, that also leads MLB.
ON DECK: The Dodgers will finish off the regular season by hosting the freeway series. It will also be the second series of the year against the Angels. LA swept the Angels in a 3-game set on Aug. 14-16 in Anaheim. Friday will be the final “Kershaw Day” of the regular season. Clayton Kershaw will get his 10th start of the season. He is 6-2 with a 2.15 ERA and a 0.755 WHIP.
