Aug 10-12: Dodgers need a series win. Will start off with Scherzer, so need to win the 1st game.
Game 1- Shutout shoutout! Great 3+ innings by both starters, until downpour caused a 1:45 hr rain delay, so removed both at a scoreless juncture in the bottom of the 4th. Dodgers got the offense going next 2 innings with 1 and 3 runs, started by Seager dinger, as Dodgers take a nice 4-0 lead and as usual, try to hold on. Dodgers load and leave the bases in the 7th and again in the 8th — could have been fatal, but turned out to not matter. Game punctuated by a frustrated Muncy who went king tomahawk for a monster mash (“Go get it out of the ocean!”) to make it 5-0. Seager MVP with a 3/4 cycle; AJ hitting the ball hard still; Trea shows speed has no slump; Belli a mix of hard hits and K’s (still can’t hit the high fastball); Will Smith got a couple clutch hits; good to see Matt Beaty get a PH single.
A parade of the bullpen ensued after the delay, with all comers looking good — including 2 newbies: LHP Piehl (pitched Sunday) and RHP Connor Greene (just called up to be the 133rd pitcher this year LOL). Also VIP return: after 3.5 months, Evil Knebel made his return (but had no feel for his curve). All told, Dodgers got a season high 15 K’s in their 1st shutout in weeks.
Finally, observing the roll of 5’s: Dodgers 5-0; Giants and Padres were both in 5-5 games late. 3-4 games separating these 3 teams.
Game 2- Rinse and repeat: no score early when another rain delay (53 minutes), then Dodgers got the offense going, led by a resurgent Belli with a pair of just long enough bombs. Even David Price chipped in a double and RBI to lead team to an 8-2 win. AJ still hot with 3 hits. Trea has a forgettable defensive game (2 errors and could be 3 on a muffed popup collision with Muncy — that should never ever happen).
Game 3- Dodgers bats sleep in: only hit leaving the infield was by Pujols in the 1st. Only 1 hit outside of 2 infield singles! Other weakness stats: 0-5 RISP, 8 LOB.
Wasted opportunity and wasted good pitching from Mitch White who lasted 4 innings. His only mistake was a low fastball to Harper — don’t pitch him there. The pen was very good again, shutout style. When we give up only 2 runs on only 4 hits, we should win.