The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a sweep of the Miami Marlins on Sunday with a strong offensive showing against the National League Cy Young favorite Sandy Alcántara.
The All-Star entered the game with an NL-best 1.92 ERA over 173 innings, but he allowed six runs on 10 hits in just 3.2 innings against the Dodgers. That raised Alcántara’s ERA to 2.19, which pushed Tony Gonsolin into the top spot on the NL ERA leaderboard.
“I think the most impressive part was just the at-bat quality,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “A guy that usually goes really deep into the game, and to stress like that, one through nine, to win pitches to kind of keep the line moving, just continue to put the ball in play and take good at-bats.
“In particular, I thought Gallo had some really nice at-bats against Sandy, and guys fed off of that. Up and down the line, guys were really good. I think even Justin’s first at-bat, he struck out but saw a lot of pitches, just kind of got that pitch count up there against a very good starter. I don’t know what it is.
“He’s one of the game’s best, but we came out with a really good plan.”
While facing the Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers, the Dodgers’ offense has found some success against some of the game’s top pitchers, including three runs in 5.2 innings against Corbin Brunes, the 2021 NL Cy Young winner, on Aug. 18.
“It’s always a challenge when you face guys with really good arms and good command,” Roberts said. “But I think obviously when you see guys more, you have more information. Some guys we haven’t seen, and we have a tougher time with guys we haven’t seen.
“But yeah, I thought we had a really good game plan against those guys, and the hitters, to their credit, they did a good job of executing.”
With their success against top-tier starting pitchers, Roberts believes the Dodgers can use that momentum to bring added confidence into the playoffs.
“A guy like this you’re going to see in the postseason,” Roberts said. “You’re going have to beat ones and twos. So to beat a guy like this says a lot for how good we can be.”
Roberts praises Alcántara before the game
Heading into the matchup, the Dodgers knew they would have to take quality at-bats against Alcántara, who Roberts called him “one of the game’s best” pitchers.
“It’s a lot of velocity, it’s really good command, it’s just plus-, plus-stuff,” Roberts added. “Building innings are tough, he doesn’t walk many guys, he gets righties and lefties out. So I think it’s just more of kind of just trying to hunt your zone and go out there and compete.
“It’s going to be a good challenge for us. I think the last time he was here, we got to him pretty good. Knowing Sandy, I know it’s not lost on him. So he’s going bring bring his best. It’s going to be a good one.”
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