The Los Angeles Dodgers battled both the Colorado Rockies and strong wind at Dodger Stadium to pick up their third win of the 2023 season with an offensive outburst.
It was Julio Urías bobblehead night, although the ace won’t start until Tuesday. Instead, Michael Grove made his first start of the season, replacing the injured Tony Gonsolin and Ryan Pepiot.
Both Grove and Rockies starter Ryan Feltner looked strong early, but the Dodgers jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Chris Taylor blasted his first home run of the season following a single from Jason Heyward. The home run increased the Dodgers’ win probability by 17.8% to 77.2%.
The Rockies then came back and took the lead in the fifth inning when Grove started to falter after walking two hitters and giving up a double. Yency Almonte took over, but gave up an RBI single and a run-scoring double play that resulted in the Rockies taking a 4-2 lead.
Celebrating El Culichi.
It's Julio Urías Bobblehead Night presented by Bank of America! pic.twitter.com/3tQ3EK8UzM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2023
Windy night? The cold never bothered him anyway. pic.twitter.com/EPdQVwmTjq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2023
Welcome to the Dodgers, Jason! pic.twitter.com/bNExwTyTGR
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2023
Another one, thank you. pic.twitter.com/R5G3DRBkmm
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2023
Victory formation!
Dodgers x @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/Vopwf7ZoA2
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 4, 2023
With the Dodgers holding just a 31.7% win probability in the bottom of the fifth inning, J.D. Martinez tied the game with a bases-loaded single, adding 24.1% to the Dodgers’ win chances.
With the game tied, James Outman continued his hot hitting by tripling into right field, which drove in two runs and gave the Dodgers a 6-4 lead. They never looked back and continued to add on.
Miguel Vargas drove in another run with a single and Heyward capped off the seven-run fifth inning with a two-run homer that put the Dodgers up 9-4 and gave them a 96% win probability.
In the seventh, Outman roped his second triple of the game to drive in another run, and the following inning saw Will Smith hit his second home run of the season with a two-run blast to left field.
Shelby Miller pitched two innings to close out the 13-4 win. He struck out three hitters while walking one and giving up no hits.
Grove snaps Dodgers quality start streak
With just four innings pitched and three runs given up, Grove became the first Dodgers starting pitcher of 2023 to not record a quality start.
They entered play leading the Majors in that category, with one each from Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Noah Syndergaard.
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