Steve Webb
Game 33, 5/1/2024: Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 0
PHOENIX, AZ — So. That was about as good as a road trip could get. Save a Christian Walker walkoff and a dominant start from Kevin Gausman in Toronto, the Dodgers were damn near perfect over the last nine games. In the finale of the road trip and the first game in May, Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a stellar outing and the Dodger bats were all over the Arizona pitchers, taking the game and the series by a score of 8-0.
This game was especially meaningful to the Dodgers because it was one in which they got to one of the best pitchers in the game. Last year’s World Series hero, Jordan Montgomery, got the start in this one after being a wierd bee-induced scratch in the previous game. And while he got through the first unscathed, the Dodgers were all over him in the second inning and put the game away early.
After starting the frame with a groundball out, the Dodgers didn’t take long to get on the board. Kiké Hernandez drew a walk, bringing rookie Andy Pages to the plate. Pages continues to shine in his first taste of big league life. Here he stood toe-to-toe to Montgomery and after an eight-pitch at-bat, he absolutely demolished a ball into left center. Home Run. 2-0 Dodgers and the team was off to the races.
Miggy Ro and Austin Barnes sandwiched a couple of doubles around a walk to Chris Taylor to plate a couple more and set the table for Mookie Betts at the top of the order. And while some Dodgers might be struggling with RISP, Mookie is not one of them. He came through yet again in the third, ripping a solid single into center to score the Dodgers’ fourth and fifth runs of the evening.
Montgomery was gone by the end of the next inning and the Dodgers were in cruise control. Will Smith got his second dong in the series in the third to make it 6-0, and the team got a couple of free runs on walks in the seventh to finish up the scoring for the evening.
Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was absolutely shoving on Tuesday night. He wasn’t getting a lot of swing and miss, but he was in complete control of the strike zone and the Snakes hitters all night long. He scattered five hits and two walks in the evening, and never got rattled on the mound. Great game plan, great execution. Great start. His line for the night: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. It completed a exquisite roadtrip for the Dodgers’ high-priced rookie. During his two starts on the trip, Yamamoto went twelve scoreless innings, and lowered his ERA to under 3.00. Not bad for a guy who started out with an ERA of 45.00 after his big league debut.
With the win, the Dodgers end the road trip at 7-2, an almost complete reversal of the bummer of a home stand that had the entire team looking discombobulated and not themselves. Welcome back, boys.
On Thursday, the Dodgers have an off day, but not an off night. It’s the annual Dodgers gala. More on that after it happens, but for now, it’s a well finished road trip and a great start to the month of May. Going into the gala, they sit at 20-13, atop the NL West. They lead the pack by a comfy 4.5 games. Not a bad place to be in one month into the season.
And now, bring on the Braves!!
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
