Dodgers offense comes alive in big win against Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Dodgers treated their ace Walker Buehler to a very nice 27th birthday present at Oracle Park on Wednesday night. They scored early and often, and Buehler was his usual brilliant self as the Boys in Blue coasted to an easy 8-0 victory against the San Francisco Giants to knot up this series at a game apiece.

Dodgers put up a four-spot in the third

After Tuesday’s embarrassing loss, it was critical that the Dodgers got out of the blocks quickly in the second game of this three-game series. And they did just that. After a 1-2-3 first inning, the Dodgers got a couple of hits in the top of the second, but didn’t score. However, the third time was the charm for the Dodgers. In the top of the third, after a Walker Buehler ground out, the team got busy. First, lead-off hitter Chris Taylor drew a walk. Then, new papa Max Muncy drilled a solid single into center, advancing Taylor 90 feet. Then up came Justin Turner with an RBI chance. JT hit a perfectly placed fly ball that dropped just fair and out of the reach of right fielder Mike Yastrzemski to score the Dodgers’ first run.

Will Smith triples home two

With a run on the board, the Dodgers were eager to add more. Next hitter Will Smith was happy to oblige. He worked a full count with starter Anthony DeSclafani and then got a pitch he liked. He took a 95 MPH four-seamer and ripped it into the right center field gap. The line drive split the defenders and scooted all the way to the wall. By the time the ball returned to the Giants’ infield, both Muncy and Turner had come around to score and Smith was standing on third base with a two-run triple.

In a good sign for the Dodgers, they were able to get yet a third RBI hit in the inning when AJ Pollock knocked Smith home with a single of his own. In all, the Dodgers sent nine hitters to the plate in the inning and chased DeSclafani from the game. It was just what the doctor ordered after the Dodgers’ anemic offense of the last few days.

Buehler sharp

Meanwhile, Walker Buehler was dealing. He held the Giants hitless through the first 3.2 innings, and wasn’t really challenged through seven innings of shutout ball. The Giants scratched out three singles against him during the night, and Buehler walked a couple, but two of those baserunners were erased on double plays. Buehler continues to step up big in the absence of Kershaw and Bauer, and has been the team’s most consistent pitcher throughout the entire season. With his win on Wednesday, the righty pushes his record to 11-1, and his ERA drops to 2.19. If Jacob deGrom continues to be on the shelf, you have to start talking about Buehler as a Cy Young candidate.

Offense adds on in the late innings

Another good sign is that the Dodgers were relentless at the dish in this game. They had a nice lead, but kept pressing the case, eventually collecting thirteen hits on the night. They racked up three runs in the seventh, on a Walker Buehler fielder’s choice RBI, and a two-run double from Giant killer Max Muncy, who continues to pummel San Francisco pitching.

Then, in the eighth, Cody Bellinger smoked a ball into the right field seats that very nearly made it into McCovey Cove. It was another positive sign in Bellinger’s attempt at recovering his MVP form, and a most welcome sign indeed. Max Muncy was 3-for-6 with two RBI on Wednesday, but he was far from the only hitting hero. AJ Pollock was 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Will Smith went 2-for-4 with that two-run triple. It was a good night up and down the lineup.

Price vs. Cueto in the series finale

Mitch White came on to clean up after Buehler, and pitched two clean innings to wrap up the game. The series wraps up on Thursday afternoon with a matinee featuring two wily veterans on the mound: David Price vs. Johnny Cueto. 12;45 first pitch. The Dodgers have a chance at actually navigating this two-week stretch and ending up in a better position than they were in before it started. Not too shabby.