Steve Webb
Lux hits late homer to carry Dodgers to comeback win
On a night when Dodger fans celebrated the Grand Opening of Shake Shack, the team was back home at the Ravine. As things change, it always ends up the same for the Dodger offense. Late inning heroics by Gavin Lux sent Dodger fans home happy in more ways than one with a Dodger 6-4 victory.
After giving up a home run to Mitch Haniger in the first inning, Walker Buehler settled in his first time through the lineup. Buehler threw more sliders and cutters early keeping the Mariner hitters off balance. The line for Walker ending with 8 strikeouts in seven innings while walking only one. This was the first game Walker has given up three or more homers in an outing since 2018.
Big Bro Breaks Out
The top half of the third inning started off well but a single by Kyle Lewis gave the Mariners a runner for Kyle Seager. Big Bro walloped a ball towards the heavens and the broken batted ball came down well beyond the right field fence. The Mariners had a three run lead and the Dodger hitter tally stuck at one hit.
Muncy gets home team on the board
The Dodgers offense, seemingly on life support, displayed a flicker of life in the home half of the fourth. Max Muncy drilled a no-doubter over the right field fence 433 feet away from home plate and the Dodgers were on the board. Next batter up, Chris Taylor, had us on the edge of our seats with a drive off the fence and ended his run at third base with a triple. We have a pulse!!! Unfortunately he was left stranded at third, Mariners 3, Dodgers 1 after 4 innings.
Timely Hitting!
In a continuation of Sunday’s lack of driving in runners in scoring position, Mookie Betts had the Dodgers in business in the fifth inning. A two out double off the glove of J.P Crawford set the table for Corey Seager. On the second pitch, Seager drilled a ball right into the glove of Kyle Lewis to end the inning. Where has the clutch hitting gone?
Mariner starter, Yusei Kikuchi, fought off a few early jitters and left base runners stranded early. He was hitting 98 on the radar gun leaving the Dodger bats almost silent through 6-1/3 innings. Kikuchi striking out eleven Dodgers and left the game with a 4-1 lead.
Muncy fielding gem a turning point
The turning point of the game was a defensive gem pulled off by Max Muncy in the top half of inning number seven. Muncy, with his back to home and running towards the seats, put leather on the ball. His momentum carried him into the fish netting and the first Mariner out for the inning.
In the home half of the seventh inning Chris Taylor collected a single and the Dodgers had their 5th hit. After Sheldon Neuse struck out, Gavin Lux squeaked out an infield single and WHAT? The Dodger had two runners on base. AJ Pollock fresh off the bench and avoiding the injured reserve list pinch hit for Buehler, walked on a six pitch at bat. Mookie Betts headed to the plate the bases plugged with Dodgers, could we see some Mookie Magic? Not to be as Mookie battled but was called out on strikes on a very borderline call.
Little brother’s turn
Corey came up, Dodger runners still piled up on the bases. In classic Corey style, first ball swinging, dropped a liner in and plating two runs. Unfortunately good times crashed quickly with Justin Turner. JT continued his perfect night a the plate, striking out for a fourth time. Mariners 4 Dodgers 3 after 7 innings. NOT ANOTHER ONE RUN GAME!
Relief pitching holds M’s at bay
Garrett Cleavinger was first through the bullpen door coming in to start the eighth inning. Garrett pitched very well throwing his sliders for strikes and won over the Dodger fans striking out the final batter for the tenth of the game.
Lux is clutch
Two out magic in the bottom of the eighth inning came to the plate with Gavin Lux. It all started after Chris Taylor hammered his third hit of the game. Taking matters into his own hands, Taylor stole second and we had another runner in scoring position. Mariner reliever Rafael Montero plunked Matt Beaty putting two Dodgers on for Lux. There was some pent up frustrations being released after this LONG ball putting the Dodgers up by two!
Dodger Closer Kenley Jansen came in to clean up the ninth inning. Kenley managed to strike out both Lewis and Haniger bringing up Kyle Seager as the last hope. Jansen throwing mostly low 90’s managed to pop up Seager on 94 mph cutter to end the game and preserve the DODGERS WIN!
Next up Julio Urias (4-1, 3.59 ERA) takes on Justin Dunn (1-0, 3.51 ERA) and the Mariners, game time 7:10
