Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Dodger fans will recall that these same Philadelphia Phillies basically smashed the Dodgers in the mouth the last time these two team hooked up at the Ravine. Their early season matchup in 2022 saw the then-struggling Phillies score 33 runs and come close to sweeping a four-gamer from the home team. So, needless to see, it was nice for it to be the Dodgers who were doing the smashing this time around. The Boys in Blue got offensive production from up and down the lineup in this one, piling up 13 runs on 15 hits, and basically pummeling the Phils into submission.
The highlights were many in this one, but one has to start with the long ball. In all the Dodgers hit four dingers on Monday night. First, Will Smith started the scoring with a solo shot in the bottom of the first. Then, David Peralta followed up in the next inning with a three-run bomb of his own. In the third, Jason Heyward continued the barrage with another solo jack, and then finally, when the game was pretty much on ice, Mookie Betts went yard off “old friend” Craig Kimbrel in the 7th (ya hate to see it). So, yeah, the ball was flying pretty good for the home team on Monday.
Mixed in among all the round trippers were plenty of other hits as well. Freddie Freeman went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI, Mookie drove in three of his own on a three-hit night, and Will Smith had two hits and and two ribeyes as well. But, the best news of the night might have been the two-hit, four-RBI night of David Peralta. Peralta gave the Dodgers an early boost with that three-run job down the right field line in the second, and sneaked a ball through the infield in the 8th to drive in his fourth run of the night. The Freight Train has been running pretty quiet in the first month of the season, so it would be great if it started to deliver on a more regular schedule.
As far as the pitching goes, Tony Gonsolin looked really good through his first four innings, only giving up a solo home run to Kyle Schwarber. The 5th inning kind of got away from him, but he’ll take away a lot more positive than negative from this second start of the year.
After the game, Mookie Betts said, “I think we already knew who we were, it was just a matter of putting it all into action… We’ve had some guys hitting and some guys not. Fortunately, we were able to put it all together tonight.”
Manager Dave Roberts agreed with the assessment. “It was a complete contribution from everyone, from one through nine. It was fun to watch,” he said. “Guys taking walks, Mookie homered late. Some balls that found some outfield grass. Just collectively, really good.”
When your Boys and Blue hit like that, they’re as good as anybody, anywhere. Bring on Bryce Harper! Let’s do this.
Cans of Corn…
- Speaking of Harper, the two-time MVP is expected to make his first start of the year on Tuesday night. We’ll see what he’s got in store for the Dodgers.
- Shortstop Miguel Rojas is back on the active roster and got into the game late, replacing Mookie Betts at short.
- Kody Clemens, son of the one-and-only Rocket, Roger Clemens, got into the ball game as a pitcher once the game hit laugher stage in the 8th. The Phils’ first baseman slow tossed his way to a strikeout of Michael Busch and a ground out of Shelby Miller. Yes, that Shelby Miller (what can I say, things got weird).
- Speaking of Busch, the embarrassing strikeout aside, it was his best night in the Majors on Monday: 2-for-4, two runs scored.
- Heyward continues to be scalding baseballs. James Outman (0-for-3) not so much.
- Julio Urias, who pitched the last time the Dodgers lost a game, will try to right the ship on Tuesday night. He toes the rubber against lefty Matt Strahm, who had a good April. Game time: 7:10 pm.
