Photo Credit: Los Angeles Dodgers
Post-Game Briefing
Having already clinched a playoff spot, an eighth consecutive NL West crown, and the number one seed, the outcome of this Athletics-Dodgers game was of little concern to the latter. The Boys in Blue mounted a late comeback, but Blake Treinen gave up a two-run homer and the A’s came away with the 6-4 victory.
The experiment of having Joe Kelly start a baseball game for the Dodgers has a one-and-done feel to it. In other words, it didn’t go well. Kelly didn’t have command of his fastball; thus, 16 of his 22 pitches were curveballs. The Athletics’ hitters picked up on the pattern and tagged Kelly for three runs (two earned) putting the Dodgers in a hole in the first inning.
Julio Urías, on the other hand, made his case for serving as an elite postseason long reliever tonight, dazzling in his six innings of work. Primarily a starting pitcher this season, the lefty came into the game with a first inning ERA of 8.00 (it’s 2.08 from the second inning on). At least for tonight, he showed those issues are exclusive to the actual first inning, not the first inning that he pitches.
The Dodgers’ offense chipped away all night, playing catch up until the eighth inning. Max Muncy put his team on the board in the third with a two-run shot (his second homer in as many nights), followed by solo home runs from Cody Bellinger and Edwin Ríos in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Ríos’ blast tied the game at four.
Max Muncy loves playing the team that gave up on him. ✍️✍️ pic.twitter.com/zKZuKcc7Fb
— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) September 24, 2020
While Muncy has beaten up on his old team the last two games, the same could not be said for Treinen. The former A’s closer gave up a two-run bomb to Ramon Laureano to put Oakland ahead 6-to-4 in the top of the ninth. For Treinen that was the first home run he’s surrendered all season. Unfortunately, he’s allowed nine runs on twelve hits in his last 6.1 innings pitched.
Scoring Plays
- TOP 1st: Robbie Grossman RBI double (OAK 1-0)
- TOP 1st: Mark Canha RBI sacrifice fly (OAK 2-0)
- TOP 1st: Marcus Semien scores on throwing error (OAK 3-0)
- BOT 3rd: Max Muncy 2-run HR (OAK 3-2)
- TOP 7th: Ramon Laureano RBI single (OAK 4-2)
- BOT 7th: Cody Bellinger solo HR (OAK 4-3)
- BOT 8th: Edwin Ríos solo HR (4-4)
- TOP 9th: Ramon Laureano 2-run HR (OAK 6-4)
DLD Play of the Game
The DLD Play of the Game goes to Edwin Ríos. Even though the Dodgers couldn’t pull this one out, his home run in the bottom of the eighth gave his team some hope, tying the game at four. His sixth home run this season was even more impressive considering it was Ríos’ only at-bat in the game. He spelled Justin Turner at third base as a defensive replacement in the sixth.
Edwin Rios has no interest in losing this game. We have a new mayor of Ding Dong City. pic.twitter.com/j2SCzQypRH
— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) September 24, 2020
DLD Player of the Game
The DLD Player of the Game goes to Julio Urías. If he can be this dominant coming out of the bullpen in the playoffs, look out. He entered the game in the third and proceeded to pitch six strong innings of two-hit, one-run baseball to go along with five strikeouts and two walks.
¡JUUUUUUUULIO! 🧨#LosDodgers pic.twitter.com/V5HgqvwzBr
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) September 24, 2020
Up Next
The Dodgers and Athletics will play their third and final game against each other tomorrow night.
Walker Buehler, who has been dealing with a nagging blister issue, will make his final start of the regular season for the Dodgers. In seven starts this season, Buehler is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA, 36 Ks, and a 1.01 WHIP.
It’ll be veteran pitcher and Astros-cheating-scandal whistleblower Mike Fiers on the mound for the Athletics. In 10 starts this year, he is 6-2 with a 4.67 ERA, 34 Ks, and a 1.39 WHIP. Dodger fans might remember Fiers pitching a no-hitter against Los Angeles in 2015 as a member of the Houston Astros.
Game time Thursday night will be 6:40 p.m.
Jake Reiner is a writer and reporter for Dodgers-LowDown and co-host of The Incline Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @QualityJakes.
Amanda Powers is an editor and writer for Dodgers-LowDown. Follow her on Twitter @geekpowers.