Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — It’s no secret that it’s been a minute since Austin Barnes has been much of a contributor at the plate. His rough 2023 has featured a batting average that’s hovered around .100 most of the year. And while he’s remained a trusted backstop with pitchers (especially Clayton Kershaw), the veteran catcher just hasn’t been able to get anything going offensively. Which is why it was so satisfying to see that it was he, Austin Barnes, who went yard in the bottom of the eighth to provide the only run of the game in the Dodgers’ 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Couldn’t have happened to a better guy.
However, to get to Barnes’ heroics, the Dodger Stadium faithful had to experience a different kind of thrill for the first seven innings of the ballgame: a good ol’ fashioned pitchers’ duel. This one between new Dodger Lance Lynn and former Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. And what a duel it was!
Truth be told, Burnes probably pitched a hair better than Lynn did on Thursday. Or, at least he had the Dodgers swinging and missing a lot more. Burnes went seven innings and other than a Mookie hit and a Freddie walk in the first inning to create a little mini-rally, Burnes was never much challenged the rest of the evening. In fact, the only other hit he surrendered in the game was a leadoff single in the third to Austin Barnes. Nothing came of that one, but Barnes was starting to feel his stroke a bit in this one, which would come in handy later in the game. By the time Burnes left the game after seven, he’d only given up the two hits and a pair of walks and struck out nine. It was a Cy Young performance from Burnes, who has struggled to replicate his Cy Young consistency this year.
Lynn was nearly as good as Burnes, but in a totally different way. He didn’t get much swing and miss to speak of, only notching three strikeouts in the entire game. But, Lynn was attacking the zone and working efficiently, something that he hadn’t necessarily done in his earlier starts with the Dodgers. He made it through the first five innings on just 58 pitches, and looked to go deep in the game.
The biggest challenge for him came in the top of the sixth inning, when back-to-back singles from Tyrone Taylor and Christian Yelich put men at first and third with nobody out. Obviously, it was time to bear down, and bear down Lynn did. He induced a comebacker from William Contreras and got Taylor in a pickle off third base. After a brief rundown, he was tagged out by Austin Barnes, and suddenly the inning was looking more manageable. Then, Carlos Santana sent a screamer directly into the glove of Freddie Freeman at first for the second out. After Sal Frelich popped out to short, the inning was over and Lynn had escaped the jam unscathed. It was a gritty performance, and one that will resonate for a while.
“I think it’s just better results, better luck. Great defense behind me,” Lynn said. “It’s been fun out here, especially pitching in front of the home crowd. Three of my four starts have been here. I’ve always enjoyed pitching in this ballpark, and it’s definitely a lot better as a home player.”
Lynn pitched one more inning before handing the ball over to the bullpen. Caleb Ferguson gave up a leadoff single in the eighth, but was aided by a double play and preserved the scoreless tie. That set the stage for Barnes’ heroics.
Barnes stepped into the box with one out in the eighth, and you could forgive Dodger fans if they were looking past him, and hoping that perennial hero Mookie, waiting on deck, would get the job done. However, Barnes showed that he’s not quite dead yet. Digging in against reliever Joel Payamps, Barnes took the first pitch for a called strike. It was a slider right down the middle. Payamps went back to the slider on the next pitch and this time Barnes was ready.
Barnesy ripped the ball down the left field line and deposited it among the paying customers next to the Dodger bullpen. Just like that, it was 1-0 Dodgers, and there the score would stay for the rest of the night. Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory. The Dodgers had swept the Brewers and won their eleventh straight game. It. Was. Beautiful.
“It’s been a grind this year,” Barnes said after the game. “A lot of f*cking bad nights. It’s been a grind, but I’ve been feeling better lately and I’m just going to keep going.”
One final series on this homestand as the Dodgers face another playoff contender. The Miami Marlins come to town for a three-gamer this weekend. And for the second straight night, the Dodgers will be facing down a former Cy Young winner. This time, Sandy Alcantara takes the mound on Friday. The Dodgers have always seemed to hit him well, and Alcantara isn’t what he was last season, so it should be a good game. Tony Gonsolin looks to continue his improvement for the Dodgers. Game time 7:10. Let’s make it a dozen!
