Dustin May didn’t disappoint in his long-awaited return to the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation, turning in a scoreless performance as part of a 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts anticipated May fighting some momentum in his first Major League start since May 1, 2021, and that played out as the Marlins loaded the bases in the first inning behind a leadoff single and consecutive two-out walks.
However, May recaptured his command and got Nick Fortes swinging for a third strikeout of the inning. May struck out the side in the fourth and essentially hit the predetermined target by completing five innings on 71 pitches. Roberts estimated May would be able to throw 75 pitches or complete five frames.
The right-hander retired the final 13 batters faced and finished with nine strikeouts. Four of those came on a slider, two each were on the sinker and four-seam fastball, and one came on a changeup May said he worked to refine while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers quickly rewarded May for working out of a bases-loaded jam as Will Smith’s three-run home run provided them with an early 3-0 lead.
Three straight singles by Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman led to another run in the fourth, and Justin Turner broke the game open with a three-run homer of his own.
Pressed into starting duty because Braxton Garrett went on the 15-day injured list due to a right oblique strain, Bryan Hoeing pitched just three innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits in his MLB debut.
Turner, Freeman representing Dodgers on hit leaders list
Trea Turner and Freeman both had a pair of singles on Saturday night, and remain tied for the MLB lead with 148 hits this season. They are vying to become the sixth set of teammates to finish first and second in total hits, which last was accomplished by Ichiro Suzuki and Brett Boone for the 2001 Seattle Mariners.
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