After playing his first game with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Steven Souza Jr. admitted he was looking forward to facing the Arizona Diamondbacks. Two days later, Souza turned in a web gem and broke up a scoreless tie with a key home run in a 3-0 win.
Caleb Smith became the latest left-handed starting pitcher to stifle the Dodgers as he got through six scoreless innings. Smith offset his four walks by holding L.A. to just one hit, collecting five strikeouts and inducing three double plays.
While the offense was sputtering, Trevor Bauer did his part to keep the game knotted in a scoreless tie. Bauer allowed three hits and finished with eight strikeouts over seven innings.
He earned the win in large part due to Souza leading off the eighth inning with a home run. Souza said it was an emotional moment and he nearly missed first base because of watching the Dodgers celebrate in the dugout.
Look what you made me do. 🐍 pic.twitter.com/OBzShMZRmI
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2021
Seven shutout innings and 8 Ks? @BauerOutage was on cruise control. pic.twitter.com/DZefn7x8cF
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 19, 2021
The Dodgers quickly added to their lead as Gavin Lux walked and Andy Burns followed with a double. Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly scored Lux, and a third run came across in the inning on Stefan Crichton’s balk.
Souza makes sliding catch
Prior to delivering a go-ahead home run, Souza made a sliding catch in foul territory as his momentum carried him near the wall. “I knew it was going to be close, and I took my eye off the ball for a second to check where the wall was,” Souza explained.
“I didn’t want to catch and go into the wall because I felt like I was running too fast, so I slid, just kind of reached out and hoped it didn’t hit the wall. Luckily it fell into my glove.”
Friday marked the first time Souza was back at Chase Field since suffering a left knee injury in March 2019 that required season-ending surgery to repair an ACL tear, LCL tear, partial PCL tear and posterior lateral capsule tear.
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