Dodgers show what they can do when lineup’s clicking
LOS ANGELES — Trailing by two runs within the fifth, it appeared like one other quiet inning for the Dodgers’ offense. Chris Taylor popped out to second and Mookie Betts went down swinging to start out the body.
What adopted, nevertheless, was among the finest two-out rallies you’ll see all season lengthy.
The Dodgers scored seven runs within the fifth en path to a 13-4 win over the Rockies on Monday at Dodger Stadium. All had been scored with two outs, and L.A.’s batters delivered in a wide range of methods.
“You can just sort of see it happening,” mentioned Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “It’s just good because we kept building the inning by getting base hits and walks and things like that. It’s a little sample of what we potentially can do.”
After Freddie Freeman doubled, Will Smith and Max Muncy drew back-to-back walks on full counts. That introduced up J.D. Martinez in his first massive likelihood on the plate since becoming a member of the Dodgers this previous offseason. It’s been a sluggish begin to the season for Martinez, however to ensure that the Dodgers to achieve their full potential, they’ll want a giant season out of the 35-year-old.
A pitch after simply lacking a grand slam, Martinez handed his first check with flying colours, lining a two-run single off right-hander Jake Bird to tie the sport at 4. Martinez went 2-for-5 on Monday, his second multi-hit recreation as a Dodger.
“Tonight was the best night that he swung the bat,” Roberts mentioned. “I thought he was on time and hit some good pitches and I think he might have unlocked something tonight, because those last three at-bats were really good.”
Once Martinez tied it, the remainder of the Dodgers’ lineup took turns taking massive hacks towards Bird. James Outman lined a go-ahead two-run triple into proper discipline. Miguel Vargas adopted by driving Outman in with a single of his personal. Jason Heyward, who was making his first begin of the season, capped off the rally with a two-run homer into the right-field bleachers.
“Felt good to be part of that inning,” Heyward mentioned. “We were battling back. Two outs right there, we put together a lot of really good at-bats with intention and made something happen. … It’s something that was impressive.”
It was an entire offensive effort for the Dodgers, who had been inconsistent on the plate of their season-opening collection towards the D-backs. Following the collection break up towards Arizona, Roberts maintained that his crew will hit at a better clip as soon as everybody will get right into a groove on the plate.
That contains Taylor, who must have a a lot better season in 2023 than he did in ’22. Taylor mentioned he seems like he’s turning a nook on the plate, and he confirmed that off by smacking a two-run homer within the second inning. The ball had an exit velocity of 110.7 mph, which is tied for the second-hardest-hit ball of his profession and a better exit velo than any of his balls in play final season.
“I’ve been on time and I’ve been making good decisions and swinging at good pitches. I’m just missing on a lot of foul balls back, which has been frustrating,” Taylor mentioned. “I’ve been a tick under everything. So it was good to get that first one tonight and finally feel a barrel. That was nice.”
After scoring only one run in two of the primary 4 video games of the season, the Dodgers responded with 13 runs on Monday. Finding consistency and constructing on these performances will likely be a key to them this season. But for now, they’ll benefit from the nights the place the offense flashes the potential they talked about all winter and spring.
“I think this shows the depth of our lineup,” Taylor mentioned. “Guys are doing it the right way, trying to grind them [opposing pitchers] out and make them work and then taking advantage.”
