An hour earlier than first pitch, one of many in-game hosts at Dodger Stadium described Wednesday night time’s contest between the Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers as a “Sport 7.”
In a single sense, it was … type of.
Coming into Wednesday, the Dodgers and Brewers had break up the primary six video games of their season collection — every taking two throughout a four-game set in Milwaukee final week, then buying and selling victories within the first two video games of this week’s rematch in Los Angeles.
“For me, it’s a little bit little bit of preparation for the playoffs,” shortstop Trea Turner stated of the latest matchups towards the Brewers.
And in Wednesday’s collection finale, the Brewers had the prospect to affix what has been an unique membership this season — solely two different groups have performed a number of collection towards the Dodgers and received extra video games than they’ve misplaced.
Alas, the Dodgers as a substitute received the rubber match in blowout trend, blitzing the Brewers in a 12-6 victory in entrance of 47,216 at Dodger Stadium.
After briefly trailing within the first on Willy Adames’ solo dwelling run, the Dodgers (86-37) scored 4 runs within the backside of the inning sending 9 batters to the plate and compelled Brewers starter Adrian Houser to throw 39 pitches.
Within the third, they negated one other Brewers run within the high of the inning on an RBI grounder from Austin Barnes.
Then within the fourth, they pulled away for good, getting a sacrifice fly from Max Muncy, a two-run double from Joey Gallo and an RBI single from Barnes.
By the point the sport was over — the Dodgers obtained one other sac fly from Muncy within the fifth and a two-run homer within the sixth from Barnes, who completed with 4 RBIs — they'd recorded double-digit runs in back-to-back video games for the primary time since September 2018.
Additionally they have a successful report this season towards 10 of the Nationwide League’s 14 different golf equipment — they’ve misplaced season collection solely to the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates, break up six video games with the Washington Nationals, and nonetheless must settle their matchup with the New York Mets in Queens subsequent week — and an eight-game lead for the league’s high playoff seed.
Is all of it beginning to really feel a little bit too straightforward?
“Generally it feels that method,” stated Turner, one in all 5 Dodgers with two hits Wednesday. “However if you assume like that, you get your butt kicked the subsequent day.
“I feel we do job of simply specializing in what’s in entrance of us. I do know that’s boring, however I feel that’s why we’re within the scenario we’re in.”
The perfect a part of the Dodgers’ efficiency won't have been their offense, both.
Left-hander Andrew Heaney had one in all his finest begins of the 12 months, finishing six innings for simply the second time whereas throwing a season-high 91 pitches.
“Feeling higher,” stated Heaney, who has made 5 straight begins this month after spending a lot of the primary half of the 12 months on the injured checklist with shoulder troubles. “Making an attempt to get deeper into video games, be a bit extra pitch environment friendly.”
That’s what Heaney did, limiting the Brewers (65-58) to only one extra run whereas placing out 10 for a second consecutive outing.
Heaney has 62 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings to associate with a 1.94 ERA.
“I feel we’ve achieved a very nice job of progressively constructing him up, and never too quick,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated.
“He’s an enormous a part of what we’re attempting to do right here this 12 months.”
Rehab updates on pitchers
For months, the Dodgers have puzzled what number of of their injured pitchers can be wholesome in time to assist out within the playoffs.
Now, the query is shifting, with the priority much less about well being, and extra about how properly their injured crop of relievers will probably be pitching when the postseason begins.
“It’s sort of, [are they] wholesome sufficient and in addition [are we] feeling assured within the efficiency?” Roberts stated.
At the moment, the Dodgers have 4 pitchers out on minor league rehab assignments: Blake Treinen, Victor González and Tommy Kahnle in triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis; and Danny Duffy within the Arizona Advanced League.
Starter Clayton Kershaw and reliever Yency Almonte are additionally on the injured checklist, however are anticipated again within the coming weeks.
The 4 rehabbing relievers have all missed vital time — if not the entire season thus far.
At this stage, although, Roberts stated the Dodgers are “fairly sure that with the place the calendar is at, we will get all of them wholesome.”
The larger query is more and more changing into whether or not, after lacking a lot time, these pitchers will rediscover the shape that may warrant a spot on the postseason roster.
“That takes a while,” Roberts stated. “However these guys are straightforward to wager on.”
Lux sits out once more
Gavin Lux missed a second straight sport with neck/higher again discomfort, however stated he might return to the lineup Friday or Saturday.
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