The Los Angeles Dodgers avoided being swept by the defending World Series champion Houston Astros at home on Sunday afternoon, hanging on for a 3-2 victory.
Although they fell behind one pitch into the game because George Springer took Walker Buehler deep, the Dodgers were able to get on the scoreboard early themselves against Astros starter Gerrit Cole.
Joc Pederson walked to begin the bottom half of the first, and Manny Machado followed with a hard-hit single to left to put two runners on with no one out. Later in the inning, newly-acquired second baseman Brian Dozier hit a double to center that barely was out of reach of a diving Springer, allowing both runners to score.
The Dodgers’ only other run in the game came in the third inning when Machado singled once again and then scored on a double hit to the left-center field gap by Cody Bellinger.
Machado had perhaps his best effort at the plate since being traded, collecting three hits in a game for the first time while scoring two of the team’s three runs.
Buehler turned in another solid performance on the mound for the Dodgers, tying a career high with eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings, allowing just four hits, two walks and two runs.
The bullpen was flawless in relief of Buehler, as Dylan Floro, Scott Alexander and Kenley Jansen combined to toss 3.2 shutout innings, giving up one hit while striking out three.
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