The Los Angeles Dodgers got a much-needed 4-1 win in the series opener against the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. It was the first time the Dodgers won the first game of a series since April 8 against the Minnesota Twins.
Through the first five innings of play it seemed as if the Dodgers were not going to have a productive night at the plate once again. The Dodgers’ top four in the lineup were held in check by Nationals pitching, which has normally led to a quiet performance for the team’s offense as a whole during recent weeks.
The Nationals held a 1-0 lead entering the top of the sixth inning, but the Dodgers overcame two of their biggest flaws in the early part of the season to take the lead and secure comeback victory.
Kiké Hernández tied the game with a two-out RBI single in the sixth, but the Dodgers were unable to take the lead and left two men on to end the threat.
It would take until the eighth inning for James Outman, who was pinch hitting for Hernández, to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead with his RBI double. Miguel Rojas would keep the scoring going as he drove in Outman to give the Dodgers a two-run cushion.
Tie game! pic.twitter.com/uuqfhJ2whO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 24, 2024
James RBIman.
(🎥: @Dodgers) pic.twitter.com/bEkDzPzfd1
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 24, 2024
¡Miguel con doblete se trae a James al plato! pic.twitter.com/nANZxjSwbr
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) April 24, 2024
An absolute laser from Ohtani.
(🎥: @MLB) pic.twitter.com/dVYQdjpEjW
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) April 24, 2024
It was a huge moment for Outman and Hernández, two players that have had their struggles this season, and it was an encouraging sign for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts as he has discussed his faith in the bottom of the lineup.
Shohei Ohtani added insurance run with a towering home run in the ninth inning. Ohtani’s homer traveled 450 feet and set a Dodgers Statcast record (since 2015) for highest exit velocity at 118.7 mph.
James Paxton started the game and was effective enough, only giving up one run in 4.2 innings. Michael Grove, Alex Vesia, Daniel Hudson and Evan Phillips combined to shut out the Nationals’ offense the rest of the way.
Phillips ran into some trouble as he entered to close out the game, but escaped a bases-loaded jam.
Dodgers beenfit from Nationals baserunning mistake
Phillips gave up three walks and one hit, but still managed to keep the Nationals off the board thanks to a mix of good heads-up baseball from the Dodgers and bad baserunning. The rundown gave Phillips an extra out and one less baserunner to worry about.
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