Steve Webb
The Dodgers rode yet another impressive start to victory today at Chavez Ravine. This time it was Walker Buehler who shut out the lights. But today, the Dodger bats were largely quiet. Thanks to Justin Turner and almost nobody else, the team generated just enough offense to win. The final tally in the home opener against the Washington Nationals: 1-0, the lone run scoring on a Turner solo shot to center field in the sixth inning.
Today at Dodger Stadium, both starters were on point. In fact, Nats pitcher Joe Ross was even a skosh better than Buehler while he was on the mound. Ross, who opted out of last season, was making his first start since October of 2019. Over five innings of work, he struck out four and was only dinged for two Justin Turner singles the entire afternoon.
However, he might have been a victim of his own success. In the top of the fifth, the Nats were threatening against Walker Buehler, with men and first and third with two out when Ross’s spot came up. Since he was still dealing, manager Dave Martinez opted to let him hit. Buehler made short work of his mound opponent, striking him out on four pitches. The Nats’ threat was over and they wouldn’t threaten again until the 8th.
Buehler, on the other hand, seemed to be in late season form already in his second start. He scattered six singles over six innings work. Though the Nats had two baserunners in a couple of innings, both threats didn’t develop until there were two outs, and Buehler was able wriggle out of both of them. His line for the day: 6 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4K.
The Dodgers’ one run came in the bottom of the sixth. After Nats reliever Luis Avilan struck out both Chris Taylor and Corey Seager, Justin Turner stepped to the plate. Already 2 for 2 on the afternoon, Turner was looking to add to an already impressive first week of the season. After taking the first pitch for a ball, Turner got an 85-mile-an-hour breaking pitch in the heart of the plate. He turned it around and deposited the ball among the socially distanced faithful in the left center field seats.
That single run would hold up the rest of the day. But not without some drama first. The Nationals most significant threat came in the 8th inning, when Blake Treinen came to relieve Victor Gonzalez, who had pitched a clean 7th. Yadiel Hernandez ripped Treinen’s second pitch of the afternoon into the right field seats on one hop for a ground rule double. After Victor Robles beat out a perfect bunt down the first base line, Treinen found himself in a bit of a pickle.
First and third, nobody out. The Nats got a bit greedy and Robles tried to steal second, but was gunned down by a perfect strike from catcher Will Smith. That’s one. Treinen then struck out Trea Turner. That’s two. Finally, after intentionally walking smirking phenom Juan Soto, Treinen induced veteran Ryan Zimmerman to ground into a 4-6 force out. That’s three. Inning over. Threat averted.
Then, even better, Corey Knebel (not Kenley Jansen) was simply unhittable in the 9th inning. He struck out the side on ten pitches, and quite frankly, the Nats hitters were completely overmatched. This is the third straight solid high-leverage outing for Knebel, whose ERA still sits at 0.00. Kenley Jansen, on the other hand, was watching from the bullpen as all this transpired. I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin…
So, in a classic pitcher’s duel, it was Justin Turner who provide the sole run of the afternoon. The Dodgers are back in action on Saturday night, with Julio Urias back on the mound. 6:10 start. Hopefully, there will be a few more hits in the Dodger bats tomorrow. But hey, a dub is a dub, amirite?
