Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — The Dodgers are starting to have that look. That look of a team on a roll that knows that every night, somebody is going to step up and deliver in the clutch. On Friday night, it was Cody Bellinger. After a year of struggle, Belli hit a two-out 8th-inning grand slam to propel the Dodgers to 5-1 victory over the rival San Francisco Giants. It. Felt. Good.
Dodgers have Webb on the ropes, but let him escape
In the first couple of innings, it looked like Giants starter Logan Webb was headed for a very short evening indeed. After Mookie Betts led off with a first-pitch single, Webb retired the next two hitters, but then had a whole mess of trouble finding the strike zone. He surrendered three straight walks, the last of which gave Gavin Lux a free RBI and the Dodgers were on the board.
They had some traffic in the second inning as well, but just could not deliver the knockout blow to the Giants ace. Then, as the game progressed, Webb rediscovered his stuff, and became much more efficient, so much so that he last six full innings, and only surrendered that one earned run in the first.
Anderson goes six, surrenders one unearned run
Meanwhile, Dodgers starter Tyler Anderson was having his way with the Giants’ batting order. Taking advantage of his opponents’ aggressiveness, TA was getting a lot of early contact and a lot of swing and miss on the cambio. The lone blemish on the scorecard came in the top of the fourth. A Max Muncy throwing error on a tough chance at third extended the inning, and allowed Yermin Mercedes to deliver a two-out RBI single to tie up the game.
While Anderson wasn’t quite as crisp as we’ve seen him in the past, there was plenty to be proud of on the night. His final line for the evening: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K.
Relief Pitching Holds
On Thursday, the bullpen just couldn’t hold a big lead, so when Dave Roberts shook Tyler Anderson’s hand after six, there was no telling what would come out of the gate this time. However, the pen came through in this one. The combination of David Price, Yency Almonte and Alex Vesia managed to pitch two scoreless innings, and only gave up a hit and a walk along the way. The game went into the bottom of the eighth still tied 1-1.
Dodgers pounce on error
As they had done on Thursday, the Dodgers saved their heroics for late in the game. But the stage was set for the final act in the oddest of fashions. First, Freddie Freeman led off the inning with his second single of the game, a solid shot to center off new reliever Sam Long. After Will Smith flew out to very deep left, Max Muncy came up for what would prove to be the key at-bat of the entire inning.
First, Long bounced a pitch past catcher Joey Bart to move Freeman to second. Then, Muncy hit a ground ball down the first base line. Instead of Brandon Belt, it was substitute LaMonte Wade Jr. there to field it. And he Buckner-ed the thing, He got a glove on it, but it went through the wickets and Muncy was safe at first with Freeman parked ninety feet from home.
Gavin Lux struck out, which would have been the third out of the inning, but instead, it brought Jake Lamb to the plate with two down and a chance to give the Dodgers the lead. Long promptly hit Lamb with the first pitch, and lo and behold the bases were loaded for Cody Bellinger.
Belli delivers big time
The at-bat started pretty poorly, to be honest. Cody whiffed on a fastball, and on the second pitch he tried to call time. Home plate ump Alfonso Marquez wasn’t interested in granting time, and instead called strike two on a curve ball. Quickly, Belli was in an 0-2 hole.
It was time to start battling. He fouled off a curve. He fouled off a four-seamer. He fouled off a changeup. And then, he got one that he liked, a hanging curve. WHACK! Belli put a good swing on it and the ball soared through the night sky. 50,000 stood as one, willing the ball fair as it sailed toward the fences. The communal prayers were answered and the ball stayed fair. A grand slam! Just like that it was 5-1 Dodgers.
Kimbrel shaky, but gets the win
I’m in such a good mood after the Belli Bomb, that it’s kind of a bummer to talk about Craig Kimbrel. Let’s just say he came in, he got three outs, and the Dodgers won the game. It didn’t go quite as smoothly as that, but close enough. The Dodgers win their sixth straight and put even more distance between themselves and the Giants.
Saturday game on Fox
The folks at Fox seem to be very fond of featuring the Dodgers on Baseball Night in America. They once again will be the exclusive home of Saturday night’s contest, complete with its funky 4:15 start time. That means both pitchers are probably going to be the beneficiaries of those late afternoon sun and shadow continues that hitters love so much. It’s going to be Julio Urias tossing for the Dodgers, and our old pal Alex Wood for the Giants. Bring your sunscreen, Dodger fans, and let the fun begin!
Cans of Corn…
- The Giants got done in by poor defense again. Hate to see it.
- Belli’s granny was the first slam of the entire year for the Dodgers, this after hitting a bunch of them in 2021, including two in one game.
- Mookie continues to hit, going 2-for-5 in this one.
- JT had a little abdominal tightness, sat this one out.
- Walker Buehler is about ready to start a throwing program. Best case, he’s back in September.
- Brusdar Graterol has started playing catch again.
- Blake Treinen is probably going to face live hitters within the next week or so.
- At OKC on Saturday, Dustin May faced game action of the first time. He went just two innings due to elevated pitch count (49 pitches). Gave up a run on three hits and three walks. Hit high 90s on the gun.
