The Los Angeles Dodgers finished off a dominant series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 7-0 victory to sweep the three games heading into a marquee matchup with the Atlanta Braves.
Freddie Freeman opened the scoring with a two-run homer that traveled 440 feet and nearly cleared the pavilion in right field. It was Freeman’s second-longest home run this season, trailing only a 442-foot blast he hit on July 25, also at Dodger Stadium.
Jason Heyward turned the third into a big inning for the Dodgers as he also hit a two-run home run. It was a bit of redemption for Heyward, as he was robbed of extra bases and at least one RBI by Corbin Carroll on a leaping catch to end the first inning.
Max Muncy then broke the game open with a two-run double in the fourth inning. That not only put the Dodgers up 6-0, but also gave Muncy an eighth consecutive game with an extra-base hit.
Stop Freddie? Pfaadt chance. pic.twitter.com/JOWcSpypQv
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2023
Stay hot, Jason! pic.twitter.com/Uwq2D7Gbg6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2023
Dodger Stadium now has a Freddie Freeman dance segment for entertainment between innings. pic.twitter.com/qKlAxWTKwS
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) August 31, 2023
The Dodgers franchise record is nine games in a row with an extra-base hit, shared by Jack Fournier (1925) and John Roseboro (1961).
The table had been set for Muncy by Freeman’s double that put two runners in scoring position. Freeman is up to 51 doubles this season, two away from breaking the all-time Dodgers record.
That belongs to Johnny Frederick, who hit 52 doubles during the 1929 season. Freeman already broke Shawn Green’s L.A. Dodgers record of 49 doubles that was set in 2003.
Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals hit a National League record 64 doubles in 1936. Earl Webb holds the MLB record for most doubles in a single season with 67 as a member of the 1931 Boston Red Sox.
There was a lighthearted moment when Dodger Stadium played “Do The Freddie” by Freddie and the Dreamers, and fans did Freeman’s dance celebration when on the video board.
On the pitching side, Ryan Pepiot turned in five scoreless innings and he was followed by Ryan Yarbrough, who also did not allow a run while finishing out the win.
Dodgers magic number
What’s more, the Dodgers finished 8-5 in the season series against the Diamondbacks and kept pace with the Atlanta Braves to remain four games back heading into their showdown at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the NL West is 15 — any combination of their wins and Diamondbacks losses.
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