Some late inning magic from Jason Heyward propelled the Los Angles Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners to clinch a series win and complete a comeback.
With the game tied and two runners on in the eighth, Heyward pinch-hit for Kiké Hernández against Andrés Muñoz and blasted a three-run homer to put the Dodgers ahead.
Heyward is now 2-for-2 with 2 home runs in his career against Muñoz, who is one of the top relievers in baseball. It was also Heyward’s second pinch-hit home run of the season, his last coming against the Colorado Rockies.
While the Dodgers eventually came out ahead, it wasn’t easy for them to get to that point.
Walker Buehler was back on the mound, and his struggles continued. He retired the first two batters he faced, but things went downhill from there.
Buehler gave up a double and walked two hitters to load the bases, and the Mariners got on the board with a two-run single from Jorge Polanco. Buehler was finally able to escape the inning with two runners left on, but not before the Mariners had a 2-0 lead.
In the third, another single and walk put the Mariners in business before Polanco drove in another run, this time with a double to make it a 3-0 game.
Buehler was able to throw one more inning, giving up a double but stranding the runner on second. He finished his night with four innings pitched, allowing three runs on seven hits with three walks to just one strikeout.
He was unable to find his command throughout the game, and left too many pitches over the heart of the plate, or just too far out of the zone to be competitive. That’s been a season-long issue for Buehler, who now owns a 6.09 ERA in 44.1 innings with just 35 strikeouts to 19 walks and a 1.67 WHIP.
The Dodgers scored their first run in the fourth inning when Gavin Lux homered, his 10th of the season and seventh in his last 30 games. Over the last month, Lux has been the Dodgers’ hottest hitter, and one of the best overall in MLB.
Max Muncy also got in on the fun, blasting his second homer in as many nights to cut the Mariners’ lead to one run. Muncy missed months with an oblique injury, but has picked up right where he left off, showing off his powerful bat in both games since his return.
The Dodgers ended up tying the game in the seventh inning after Tommy Edman started the inning off with a double, and Mookie Betts drove him in with a two-out double.
With two runners on, Teoscar Hernández singled, which almost gave the Dodgers a lead, but Betts was thrown out at home, ending the rally.
Dodgers delay Blake Treinen’s return
Blake Treinen was expected to be activated off the 15-day injured list prior to the game, but the Dodgers instead opted to push that back to Wednesday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the reason was to keep Ben Casparius around to provide the club length out of the bullpen.
Although Buehler only went four innings, Casparius did not end up making his debut. Daniel Hudson ended up picking up the save.
Alex Vesia, Ryan Brasier, Anthony Banda and Joe Kelly also pitched in the game.
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