The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a series win with a 5-4 victory against the San Francisco Giants, setting up an opportunity to sweep their rivals on Wednesday.
The offense faced their first tough test with 2023 National League Cy Young runner-up Logan Webb on the mound for San Francisco. They also dealt with the challenge of home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi expanding the strike zone.
However, that didn’t affect the Dodgers too much as they chased Webb out of the game before he was able to complete four innings. The right-hander gave up five runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts over his 3.2 innings of work.
It was just the third time since the 2021 All-Star break, in which he’s made 83 starts, that Webb failed to complete four innings in an outing.
Mookie Betts started the Dodgers off in the first inning with a leadoff single, and after stealing second base, he scored on a single from Freddie Freeman. Betts also hit his MLB-leading fifth home run in the third inning as he continued to remain on fire to begin the year.
With the game tied in the fourth, the Dodgers rallied to take the lead when Max Muncy doubled, Teoscar Hernández walked, and Gavin Lux doubled home Muncy to put L.A. up by one run.
A single from Kiké Hernández then drove in Teoscar Hernández and Lux to give the Dodgers some much-needed breathing room, and which ultimately proved to be the game winners.
Ryan Brasier made the start for the Dodgers as they utilized a bullpen game to give their starters some extra rest. He worked a scoreless first inning with one walk and one strikeout.
Following him, Ryan Yarbrough took over and pitched the bulk of the game. Yarbrough threw 4.1 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits.
Alex Vesia threw 0.2 innings without giving up a run, and Michael Grove pitched 1.2 innings before exiting. Grove was sharp with a scoreless seventh inning, but he fell into a jam in the eighth.
Evan Phillips was called upon for the four out save opportunity with two on, and he successfully got out of the inning with just one pitch. In the ninth, he worked a scoreless frame with two strikeouts.
Jason Heyward remained out of Dodgers lineup
Jason Heyward remained on the bench as he continues to deal with a lower back issue. It seems he’s trending toward a stint on the injured list, and before the game, the Dodgers claimed Taylor Trammell off waivers in a move that appears to be related.
The expectation is Trammell will be added to the active roster on Wednesday when Heyward is placed on the 15-day IL.
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