Less than one month into the 2017 regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers found themselves in a precarious position heading into Sunday’s series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Los Angeles had suffered back-to-back losses, getting outscored 24-10 in the process.
What’s more, the Diamondbacks had rattled off four consecutive wins over the Dodgers, dating back to a series at Dodger Stadium. But there was some reason for optimism. Outside of Clayton Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy has been the team’s most dependable starter thus far.
The veteran right-hander rose to the occasion against his former team. A mistake pitch to Paul Goldschmidt resulted in a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. It was one of three hits McCarthy allowed that inning.
He proceeded to settle in, giving the Dodgers seven innings of quality work. The Diamondbacks never scratched again and only mustered two more hits along the way.
Following his club’s win, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke to what he’s seen from McCarthy this season, via Andy McCullough of the L.A. Times:
“He’s just got a good look in his eye,” Roberts said. “I like the word ‘relentless.’ Right now, he’s in that focused mind-set, and he’s relentless.”
The outing was McCarthy’s longest since April 13, 2015, which was two weeks prior to his Tommy John surgery. The 33-year-old improved to 3-0 in four starts this season. McCarthy owns a 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and has at least four strikeouts in each of his outings.
He and Clayton Kershaw are the only Dodgers starters to reach the seventh inning in a start this season.
In addition to providing needed length, McCarthy also drew a leadoff walk in the fifth, which finished as a six-run inning for the Dodgers.
