The Los Angeles Dodgers entered play Friday night coming off being no-hit, on a four-game losing streak that tied their longest such stretch this season, and with an offense mired in inconsistency.
The Dodgers only needed until the second inning to collect a hit off Jake Arrieta — Cody Bellinger’s leadoff single that led to scoring the tying run. Zach McKinstry then put L.A. ahead in the third with a leadoff home run on the first pitch he saw from Arrieta.
However, the Dodgers sputtered from there as they twice left the bases loaded. Stranding a bevy of baserunners eventually cost them as Joc Pederson’s sacrifice fly tied the game in the seventh inning.
It didn’t remain that way for long as AJ Pollock and Max Muncy each delivered a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth. “Obviously that big hit by AJ was a big exhale in the dugout,” Roberts said after the 6-2 win.
“I think there’s that sense of urgency. When you’re in the middle of a losing streak, you’re at home and you see the energy, the crowd is waiting for us to do something positive and exciting. You just feel that.
“We’re trying to do everything we can to win a baseball game, so that AJ at-bat, we needed it. You could feel it from the dugout and 49,000 people were on their feet. It was a lot of fun.”
Roberts added he was pleased with the Dodgers’ overall at-bat quality one night after calling on the team to be more consistent in sticking to a gameplan. Roberts specifically highlighted Justin Turner, who went 2-for-5, and Gavin Lux working the count full before drawing a leadoff walk that set the table for Pollock’s home run.
Pollock had initial doubt on home run
Pollock’s home run was his sixth of the season but one that he wasn’t sure if it had enough carry. “I knew I hit it well, I just wasn’t sure if I got too under it,” he said.
“It was nice seeing Joc (Pederson) run after it and not be able to catch it. It was a really good win. The guys have been battling, we hung in there late and were able to tack on some runs. It ended up being a nice, efficient game.”
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