Dave Roberts: Bottom Of Dodgers Lineup Key To Success

The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the New York Mets on Wednesday with a 10-3 win in the series finale at Citi Field.

The Dodgers broke the game open with a six-run eighth inning, propelled by home runs from Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani and contributions from the bottom of the lineup.

Jason Heyward had a pinch-hit triple and Gavin Lux drew a walk to set the stage for RBI hits from Miguel Rojas and Miguel Vargas. Heyward added a solo home run in the ninth to finish his day with seven total bases.

Manager Dave Roberts noted the team seems to have more success when the bottom of the Dodgers lineup produces, via Jack Harris of the L.A. Times:

“There’s no surprise that, when the bottom is doing some things offensively, then we score runs,” Roberts said. “It’s just kind of the way it is.”

Including pinch-hitters, the Dodgers’ six through nine batters combined to go 10-for-18 with four extra-base hits, five RBI, six runs scored and two walks in Wednesday’s win over the Mets.

The bottom of the lineup has been a weakness for most of the season, but the group is starting to come around with Heyward swinging a hot bat since being activated off the 10-day injured list.

Andy Pages and Vargas have also had varying degrees of success since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, while Rojas has been solid all season in his limited opportunities.

Up next for Dodgers

After sweeping the Mets, the Dodgers are now riding a three-game winning streak as they return home for a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies that begins on Friday.

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