Dodgers on Deck: Dodgers vs Giants Series Recap
The Los Angeles Dodgers split the series at home against The San Francisco Giants to put a cork in the opening weekend.Dodger fans have plenty to be happy about, with minor things to be frustraited over after a strong showing against their longtime rivals. Fans may have to settle for cheering at their tv screens in the current climate since no one can travel to Elysian Park to fill Dodger Stadium, but nonetheless, baseball is back.
Game 1 – Win 8-1
The Dodgers took game one of the series with an 8-1 victory, with Enrique Hernandez delivering big, driving in 5 runs on four hits. The Giants took an early lead in the 3rd inning with Tyler Heinmen scoring by a sacrifice fly from 3B Pablo Sandoval, but that would be the only run they would tally.
While Opening Day didn’t go as planned with LHP Clayton Kershaw being scratched from starting due to back soreness. The duties were then passed to young talented upstart RHP Dustin May, and he didn’t disappoint. May pitched a solid 4 ½ innings, allowing one run in 7 hits, racking up four strikeouts, with the bullpen keeping up the dominance the rest of the way.
The Giants pitcher RHP Johnny Cueto held the Dodgers at bay until the 5th, but then the Giants bullpen began to crumble in the 7th inning where the Dodgers put up five runs, and two more in the 8th with a two-run homerun from Enrique Hernandez.
Game 2 – Win 9-1
The Dodgers exploded out the gates with another offensive onslaught, a 9-1 victory in the second game of the series that was carried by the excellent pitching of RHP Ross Stripling. Stripling delivered 7-strong innings off work, allowing one earned run, four hits, and seven strikeouts. A homerun from Giants outfielder Jaylin Davis in the 3rd would be the only dent in his Dodger armor, and the only time the Giants were able to get to Stripling.
The Dodgers scored in every inning except the 3rd through the offense’s eight innings of play. 2B Max Muncy led the charge with home runs in the 1st and 6th innings, collecting three hits and 2 RBI’s. The game also showed RF Mookie Betts collecting his first RBI as a Dodger, and 3B Justin Turner collecting 2 RBI’s on two hits; The Giants offense was was nonexistent with Stripling on the mound, and again their pitching failed to fortify their lines against the Dodgers.
Game 3 – Loss 4-5
The Dodgers fell to The Giants 4-5 in a close contest that saw The Dodgers struggling to gain traction until the later innings. The Giants were prepared for the LHP Alex Wood, or Wood wasn’t prepared for the efficient southpaw hitters of the Giants. Either way, Wood’s weaknesses were exploited. Giants manager Gabe Kapler assembled a lineup of right-handed hitters to combat Alex Wood, who appeared to be laboring early with his pitch count at 60 by the time he left the mound at the bottom of the 3rd.
The Dodgers were able to get on the board in the first inning; Justin Turner hit a double, allowing 1B Cody Bellinger to burn rubber and score all the way from first, but with the rookie pitching duo of RHP Logan Webb and LHP Caleb Baragar, The Giants were able to keep the Dodgers guessing for the rest of the way until the 8th.
In the 8th inning, The Giants’ bullpen pitching woes started to resurface, as Corey Seager, who had been denied all day from some well-positioning in the outfield, earned 2 RBI’s on a single to bring home both Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner. Then in the 9th C, Will Smith homered off of the right-handed reliever Trevor Gott, bringing the game within one run. Gott was able to calm down and get the next three outs for the win. The Giants and manager Gabe Kapler would get their first win of the season.
Game 4 – Loss 1-3
The Dodgers followed up with another loss at the hands of The Giants in this game of “battle of the bullpens”. Only one extra-base hit (XBH) the entire game, reminiscent of pure old school baseball. The starter on the mound for the Dodgers was LHP Julio Urias, who pitched a solid five innings, with five hits 1 ER and three strikeouts. In a very similar fashion, Drew Smyly of the Giants pitched a strong outing of 3.1 innings, four hits, with one earned run and two strikeouts.
The Giants turned the series around from a 17-2 run deficit in the first two games, making the Dodgers sweat in the final two games of the series. 1B Darin Ruf put the Giants on the board first in the top of the 3rd inning with a single, bringing in Mauricio Dubon for an RBI. The Dodgers answered back in the form of Cody Bellinger, hitting a sharp single and bringing in Mookie Betts for a run, Bellinger’s first RBI of the season.
The Giants took the lead again in the 6th with a run batted in by Mauricio Dubon, followed by Donovan Solano batting in another run in the 7th. The Dodgers finally came to life a bit in the 8th with a pair of singles from Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger, but the Giants bullpen came together to lock down the Dodgers once again.
During this series, the Dodgers left a whopping total of 42 batters on base. Hitting in the last two games was not consistent when it needed to be at times, but the season is young. Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger still have time to start racking up those MVP totals, but no one could have predicted the outcome of this game.
Preview of the next series:
After a day of rest, The Dodgers (2-2) are on the road next traveling to face off against the Houston Astros (2-1) for a two-game interleague series, and a rematch of the 2017 World Series.
I’m curious to see how this series goes, with the offensive power on both teams. The Astros are coming off their series against the Seattle Mariners, but still, look to be trying to find a rhythm and warm up the bats of their biggest hitters. Facing Seattle is one thing, but The Dodgers are on a different level when it comes to their hitting and their efficient bullpen.
Dustin May (ERA 2.08, 4 IP) was scheduled to face off against Justin Verlander (ERA 3.00, 6 IP)) in game 1, but with Verlander suffering a forearm injury, it was announced that he will not be playing, and will be out for a few weeks. The Astros being without their ace undoubtedly will affect the series, but most importantly could affect the Astros season overall if the injury is as serious as it was first reported.
Dustin May will be once again starting for Clayton Kershaw, who is still on the IL, but manager Dave Roberts has hope that he will return soon. Game 2 starters have yet to be announced.
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-Joshua Rushford – Franchise Sports Media
