Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Betts. Turner. Freeman. All season long, it’s been the “Big Three” at the top of the Dodgers’ batting order that have been getting it done. But they’ve never all homered in a game so far this year.
Until Saturday. In their 4-2 win, the Dodgers got solo shots from each of their first three hitters, notching their third straight victory over their in-state rivals. In addition, they got a solid start from Julio Urias en route to the series clinching win over the Giants.
Betts and Turner go back to back
After a scoreless first two and half innings, the Dodgers finally got on the board with two out in the bottom of the third. Giants starter Alex Wood almost gave up a home run to Mookie Betts twice in the first, when Betts drilled two ball just foul down the left field line. In the third, however, Wood’s luck ran out.
With a 3-2 count to Mookie, Woods threw what looked like Ball Four, but Betts had been granted time just before the ball left Woods’ hand, forcing another pitch. Woody came back in the zone with the next one, and Betts clobbered it to left center for a solo home run. This occured much to the dismay of Alex Wood, who spent much of Betts’ trip around the bases barking at home plate umpire Ramon DeJesus (for giving Betts time, I guess). Whether Alex Wood liked it or not it was 1-0 Dodgers.
But not for long. The next hitter in the order, Trea Turner smacked a solo shot of his own a few pitches later. The Dodgers were up 2-0 and would never look back.
Urías gives the Dodgers six scoreless innings
This was Julio Urias‘s first start since he was (unfairly) left off the All-Star team, and it seemed like he wanted to remind the national TV audience that Kershaw and Anderson weren’t the only good lefties in this rotation. Other than the red-hot Austin Slater, the Giants couldn’t figure Urias out all evening. His 91-pitch outing could have been a little more efficient, but he made the pitches when he needed to, and kept the Giants off the scoreboard for his entire outing. El Culichi’s final line for the night: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. His 2022 ERA is now a an impressive 2.72.
Lux and Freeman add on
The Dodgers padded their lead in the sixth and seventh with two more two-out runs. In the sixth, Cody Bellinger banged a single into right and then scored on a triple off the bat of Gavin Lux. Then, in the seventh, Freddie Freeman decided to get in on the dinger action and blasted a solo shot to the home run seats in right center. It’s Freddie’s fifth long fly in the last ten games, so the Freeman power stroke is very much heating up.
Phillips sharp, Moronta and Price stumble in the 9th
After Urias exited the game, it was up to the pen to maintain the lead. Caleb Ferguson was a little shaky in the 7th, but wiggled off the hook with no damage. Evan Phillips looked very Evan Phillips-ish in his 1-2-3 8th inning, but the 9th was another story.
It looked like Reyes Moronta would have an uneventful frame, as he retired the first two Giants he faced. But then things got a little weird. Moronta gave up back-to-back walks before Dave Roberts had seen enough. The Dodgers skipper gave Moronta the hook in favor of David Price. Unfortunately, the former Cy Young winner didn’t fare much better. Price gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Luis Gonzalez and Joey Bart and suddenly it was 4-2 and the go-ahead run was digging in at the plate in the person of Austin Slater. Erp.
Happily, Price struck out Slater thanks to a friendly call from the home plate umpire on a borderline 2-2 sinker. Whatever the Giants thought about the pitch, the game was over, and the Dodgers had just won their 7th straight game.
Kersh gets the ball on Sunday for the sweep
This rivalry series wraps up with a Sunday matinee. And, it will be our first chance to get a look at Clayton Kershaw after his successful start at the All-Star game on Tuesday. He comes into the second half of the season with a 7-2 record and a sweet 2.13 ERA. He will face off against Alex Cobb, who joined the Giants this year after bouncing around the AL for a decade. The righty is 3-4 in 2022 with a 4.09 ERA. The broadcast will be on SNLA, 1;10 first pitch.
Cans of Corn…
- Betts’s homer in the third was his 200th big league round-tripper. Not bad for a guy who is not yet 30 years old.
- In this series, the Dodgers have scored ALL 17 runs with two outs in the inning. Unprecedented.
- Freeman’s insane hitting continues. His OPS in the last seven games is 1.643.
- Not sure why the Giants’ defense was playing Lux to go the other way on that triple. It put them in a bad spot to field his shot down the line.
- Chris Taylor hit some BP before the game. Looking at a rehap assignment beginning next week.
- Blake Treinen threw a nice bullpen session on Saturday morning, using his entire repertoire. Still no set timetable for his return.
