The Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home runs and pounded the Chicago White Sox for a 9-1 victory to complete a two-game sweep at Guaranteed Low Rate Field. The series sweep was the Dodgers’ 12th this season, they improved their franchise-best stretch to 31-4, and are on an 11-game winning streak for the first time since July 28-Aug. 8, 2006.
Chris Taylor opened the game with a solo home run, and Kiké Hernandez hit solo shots in the second and fourth innings. Corey Seager tacked on a two-run homer, also in the fourth, and the Dodgers were out to a comfortable 5-1 lead.
The proverbial rout was on in the sixth, when the Dodgers opened the inning with five consecutive hits. Chris Beck, who replaced White Sox starter Carlos Rodon after just 3.1 innings, was removed in the sixth after allowing three straight doubles.
Yasiel Puig opened the inning with a two-bagger, and Trayce Thompson and Taylor followed suit. Taylor finished the night 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI, and a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.
David Holmberg entered and promptly allowed back-to-back RBI singles to Seager and Justin Turner, which extended the Dodgers’ lead to 9-1. Cody Bellinger walked before an out was recorded in the inning.
While the Dodgers were out to a commanding lead, the club elected not to push Kenta Maeda beyond five innings. He allowed five hits and one run, which came on Melky Cabrera’s solo shot that tied the game in the first inning.
Maeda allowed at least one baserunner through the first three innings, and faced a small jam in the fifth. Omar Navarez’s one-out single was followed by a comebacker that Maeda easily fielded, only to throw to second base where nobody was covering.
Seager attempted to salvage the play by getting an out at first base but his throw was late. Both runners were stranded, however, as Maeda struck out Alen Hanson and induced Cabrera into a groundout.
Ross Stripling was halfway to completing a four-inning save before heavy rain moved in, sending the game into a delay with two outs in the top of the eighth. After 40 minutes, the umpires officially called the game.
The Dodgers are now 48-7 this season when scoring first. They’ve put the first run on the board in seven consecutive games during their winning streak.
