Steve Webb
PHOENIX, AZ — There were a whole lot of smiles in the Dodger dugout tonight, but I’m sure just a little bit of Julio Urias was thinking, “¿qué pasó?” One night after the Dodgers gave El Culichi no run support at all, they were back to their bashing ways in Phoenix on Thursday night. They scored early and often, riding hot hitting at the top of the lineup to an 14-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Betts, Freeman, Turner, and then more Freeman
This one was over almost as soon as it began. The Dodgers struck for two in the first and it didn’t even seem that hard. Mookie Betts bashed a leadoff double, and then scored when Freddie Freeman hit a double of his own. Freeman then came home on a Will Smith single, giving the Dodgers all the runs they needed in this one.
However, just for fun, the Dodgers decided to take on ten more runs during the night. They did it with 24 hits (TWENTY. FOUR.) The runs came in bunches in this this one. Four in the second, four in the sixth, and another pair of runs in the eighth. It was a laugher, to say the least.
Let’s see, who did the damage in this one? It starts at the top of the lineup. Mookie Betts, 3-for-5, three runs scored. Freddie Freeman, 4-for-5, three runs scored, 5 RBI. Trea Turner, 2-for-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI. Will Smith 2-for-4, one run scored, 2 RBI. That is pretty decent production, I’d say.
But we got to give the bottom of the lineup props in this one, too. Between Bellinger, Taylor, and Lux in the 7-8-9 holes, they racked up seven hits and drove in four. Two Dodgers went with the big fly in this one: Freddie Freeman, who hit a three-run jack in the the fourth to put the Dodgers up 6-0, and Chris Taylor, whose two-run shot in the eighth accounted for the Dodgers’ 11th and 12th runs of the night. It was total domination.
White and the pen shut down D-backs
The beneficiaries of all this offensive largesse were starter Mitch White and three relievers, who used the opportunity to hone their craft against a D-backs lineup that couldn’t generate much offense in this one. The lone blemish against the pitching staff was Christian Walker, who, natch, hit a home run against the Dodgers. Which is kind of his thing. For giggles, Hanser Alberto cleaned up in ninth, and didn’t look half-bad in doing so. Actually, he looked a little better than he did playing right on Sunday.
Dodgers try to keep the train rolling on Tuesday
Because of the cancelation of the first series with the D-backs, there are a lot of four-gamers worked into the schedule, so the Dodgers will remain in Phoenix through Sunday. Rookie Ryan Pepiot will match up against our old buddy MadBum on Friday night. That run differential is looking pretty sweet right about now…
Cans of Corn…
- There was annoying fan riding Freddie Freeman all night. He picked the wrong night.
- Hanser’s ninth inning was helped by great catches by Cody and Mookie.
- Gavin Lux looked good in field as well.
- This all raises the question, “What the heck happened in DC on Sunday?” Seriously.
- Mookie. Freddie. Trea. Will. Sounds like runs.
