Smith steps up, leads Dodgers to Opening Day win
LOS ANGELES — There’s no denying it was an uncommon winter for the Dodgers.
For the primary time in years, the Dodgers didn’t make an enormous splash in free company or through the commerce market. Instead, they watched Trea Turner, Justin Turner and Tyler Anderson signal multi-year offers elsewhere. Cody Bellinger, one other longtime member of the group, was launched.
As all these strikes unfolded, the endurance from the skin started to run skinny. Internally, nonetheless, the Dodgers felt they might nonetheless discipline a really aggressive workforce. Perhaps not one that may match the franchise-record 111 wins from a season in the past, however nonetheless one that may be among the many elite within the National League.
The Dodgers could have all summer season to show themselves proper. They’ll look to reply all of the questions that have been raised about all of them winter. The Dodgers’ first impression was a very good one as they opened the season with an 8-2 win Thursday over the D-backs on Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.
“Tonight, I hope, was a sign of things to come,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “This lineup, internally, we realized how much length we had and they certainly showed that today.”
A giant motive why the Dodgers remained optimistic all through the adjustments is due to the star energy the workforce nonetheless has on the roster. Though Trea Turner is a giant loss within the lineup, the Dodgers nonetheless have Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, three of the highest gamers at their positions.
For Smith, the lack of Turner opens the door for the catcher to change into the Dodgers’ three-hole hitter, creating much more alternatives for him to drive in runs. Smith took full benefit of these alternatives on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs, together with the primary three runs of the season for the Dodgers. The 4 RBIs from Smith are essentially the most by a catcher on Opening Day in Dodgers historical past.
“We had pressure on them the whole night,” Smith stated. “It was big hit after big hit. He [Zac Gallen] was close to getting out of it with a zero, but it was just nice for us that I was able to do that. We just kept going after that.”
Despite being extra productive than most catchers within the Majors since changing into an everyday in 2019, Smith remains to be one of the crucial underrated gamers within the league. For the Dodgers, nonetheless, Smith is without doubt one of the keys to the ’23 season.
With Smith and Freeman main the best way offensively to begin the sport, it opened the door for the supporting solid to increase the lead. J.D. Martinez and David Peralta every delivered RBI singles of their Dodgers debuts. James Outman, one of many key younger gamers this season, made his Dodger Stadium debut and smacked a two-run homer within the sixth off right-hander Cole Sulser.
“I think our lineup is great,” Peralta stated. “From leading off all the way to the ninth hitter, I think it’s great. So whoever has to pitch that game is going to have to be ready for us.”
That was loads of offense for Julio Urías, who allowed two earned runs over six innings, in his first profession Opening Day begin. Urías, who comes into the season because the Dodgers’ ace, struggled early, permitting 4 baserunners over the primary two innings. But the Mexican left-hander was in a position to settle in, retiring 13 of the final 15 batters he confronted.
“I just needed to feel like myself again out on the mound,” Urías stated in Spanish. “The first few innings I was cutting a little short with my fastball and it was an advantage for the hitters. But then I made some adjustments over the next few innings, and we saw some of the results.”
The Dodgers’ season shall be decided over the following few months and into October. Opening Day is only one sport. But it served as a reminder that though the Dodgers would possibly look totally different in ’23, they’re nonetheless a harmful membership.
“What do you mean, you didn’t know what to expect, you know?” Peralta stated. “We have a great team. We have a great group of guys and that’s what we’re going to do. We showed up today and we won the game today.”
