Make that 10 straight for red-hot Dodgers: ‘Just great baseball’
LOS ANGELES — Despite successful a franchise-record 111 video games in 2022, the Dodgers got here into this season with some query marks. Most puzzled if this is able to be the yr they lastly loosened the tight grip they’ve had over the National League West for many of the final decade.
Fast ahead four-and-a-half months into the ‘23 season and nothing has modified. The Dodgers are nonetheless a machine throughout the common season and, as soon as once more, probably the greatest groups within the Majors. All they do throughout the summer season is win baseball video games.
With a 7-1 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers did what they do greatest and have now gained a season-high 10 consecutive video games. They additionally improved to 14-1 because the begin of August.
“Just great baseball,” stated Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw. “Defensively, guys are making plays all over the field. Offensively, a lot of hits with runners in scoring position. And then pitching-wise, I think everybody has stepped up in the rotation. … And you can’t discredit what the bullpen is doing. They’ve been unbelievable. It’s been awesome.”
During the present streak, the Dodgers have gained in a large number of how. The beginning pitching and bullpen have been terrific, a continuing all through the streak. That continued on Wednesday, as Kershaw made his second begin since getting back from the injured listing with a left shoulder harm, permitting only one run and placing out two over 5 innings of labor.
“Well, I thought the last one was better than this one,” Kershaw stated. “There were some good throws in there, but overall, it wasn’t pretty. Really, there’s not a lot to build on. Just pitch better next time and hopefully, go a little deeper and maybe get some ground balls and strikeouts and not so many lineouts.”
Kershaw solely threw 71 pitches earlier than L.A. turned to the bullpen. Finding methods to restrict Kershaw’s workload is one thing the Dodgers will proceed to do for the remainder of the common season. The membership’s aim is to get the seemingly first-ballot Hall of Famer into October feeling wholesome. It’s a luxurious they’ll afford given their 10-game lead over the second-place Giants atop the NL West.
“I think to get him out of the game right there, maybe wanting for more and being able to go maybe another inning,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “I thought, given where we were at, it was the right decision and I feel good about him getting an extra day to make the next start in Cleveland. And [we’ll] go from there.”
At the plate, the Dodgers have additionally proven they’ll win a recreation by any means vital. On Tuesday, it was the underside of the order and the bench that took care of business. On Wednesday, it was the star energy that wore down Milwaukee.
Mookie Betts went 3-for-4 with a stroll, scoring each time he reached base — largely due to what Freddie Freeman was capable of do proper behind him. That’s been a theme all season lengthy for the Dodgers.
“You really need a couple guys atop the lineup to get teams rolling,” Betts stated. “If it’s not me, it’s Freddie. If it’s not Freddie, it’s me. Sometimes, it’s both of us. I think we both take ownership of getting us going.”
Freeman, who had gone hitless in three consecutive video games — which seems like an eternity given the extraordinary season he’s having offensively — went 2-for-5 with a single and a double, which prolonged his Major League result in 44 two-baggers. Freeman set a profession excessive with 47 doubles final season. At this tempo, he may have a brand new profession excessive by the top of the weekend.
Aside from Freeman and Betts, the Dodgers additionally acquired contributions from Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor, each of whom hit solo homers. It continues to be a group effort for the Dodgers, who’ve outscored opponents, 61-22, throughout the 10-game streak.
And they’re not displaying any actual indicators of slowing down any time quickly.
“They match up well against anybody,” stated Brewers starter Wade Miley. “That’s a really good team over there. They’re getting healthy on the pitching side again. You have to play clean baseball to beat a team like that, and we just haven’t the last couple of days.”
