Photo Credit:Los Angeles Dodgers
Post-Game Briefing
The idea behind having a runner start extra innings on second base is to speed up the games. Most games end in 10 innings, however, the Dodgers needed 13 to cap off a two-game sweep of the hated Houston Astros.
This game featured stellar relief pitching on both sides, a clutch Mookie Betts double and an absolute tank off the bat of Edwin Rios in the top of the 13th to put the Dodgers up by two.
Mookie Betts. Clutch city. pic.twitter.com/kPDkhH2dwH
— Dodgers-LowDown (@DodgersLowDown) July 30, 2020
Before we can dive into the drama on the field, let’s address the drama off the field. By the time Game 2 of the Dodgers-Astros game got underway, Major League Baseball had finally made an example of somebody in the fallout of the Astros cheating scandal. It just turned out to be the wrong guy playing for the wrong team. Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly faces an eight game suspension for his actions in Game 1, which he said he will appeal. Dave Roberts already served his one game suspension, as bench coach Bob Geren took over the reigns Wednesday night.
How Kelly got slapped with a longer suspension than any of the Astros players combined (they were never suspended) will forever baffle Dodgers fans. Anyway, on to the game!
After being thrown into the fire replacing an injured Clayton Kershaw on Opening Day, Dustin May’s second start of the season wasn’t great. He couldn’t make it out of the fourth inning and got pulled after 3 1/3 leaving two men on base for Jake McGee to clean up. McGee did just that getting Josh Reddick to pop up and Myles Straw to strike out, to end the inning. May finished with three hits, two walks, one run and struck out three.
The Dodgers’ offense has been wildly inconsistent to start the season and tonight they struggled. For a team that thrives on traffic on the bases there was not a lot of action out there. The only run they got through 10 innings was Corey Seager’s first home run of the season in the top of the 2nd. To give you an idea of how things went the boys in blue were a combined 2-15 with RISP and left eight runners on base.
Corey Seager la mandó muy lejos. ¡Adiós, pelota! 👋 👋#LosDodgers pic.twitter.com/yTqjGwHywh
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) July 29, 2020
Cristian Javier had himself a day, making his first major league start for the Astros. The 23-year-old righty lasted 5.2 innings, gave up two hits and struck out eight on 82 pitches. His only blemish was Seager’s home run in the bottom of the 2nd. His first three-ball count came with one out in the top of the 6th, which resulted in a walk to Austin Barnes.
Despite the offensive woes, the bullpen was excellent and kept the Dodgers in the game. The bats came alive when it counted and the Dodgers won 4-2.
edWIN. pic.twitter.com/skCU6NCIIk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 30, 2020
Scoring Plays
- TOP 2ND: Corey Seager solo home run (1-0 LAD)
- BOT 2ND: Myles Straw RBI infield single (1-1)
- TOP 11TH: Mookie Betts RBI double (2-1 LAD)
- BOT 11TH: Carlos Correa RBI single (2-2)
- TOP 13TH: Edwin Rios solo HR (3-2 LAD)
DLD Play of the Game
The DLD Play of the Game could easily be Mookie Betts’ RBI double in the 11th or Edwin Rios’ bomb in the 13th, but I am going to go with something slightly different.
The DLD Play of the Game is the work that lefty Scott Alexander did in the bottom of the 10th. As a part of the new extra-inning rule the Astros had Kyle Tucker start the inning on second base. Alexander struck out Jose Altuve, then walked Bregman intentionally to bring up the lefty Michael Brantley. Alexander, who is a decent sinker-ball pitcher, got Brantley to roll over for the 4-6-3 double play to preserve the 1-1 tie. This was a risky move by Geren to bring in Alexander to face two of the Astros best right-handed hitters in Altuve and Bregman, but Alexander was able to make his interim manager look like a genius.
Mookie Betts was able to push the Dodgers ahead by one with an RBI double in the top of the 11th. Unfortunately, Geren left Alexander out there for one more inning and he coughed up the lead in the bottom of the 11th. However, Dennis Santana saved the day, shut the door and kept the Astros from walking it off.
DLD Player(s) of the Game
The DLD Players of the Game were the Dodgers relievers. The bullpen continues to be a bright spot on this team and tonight was no different. The reinforcements of Jake McGee, Dylan Floro, Pedro Baez, Caleb Ferguson, Blake Treinen, Kenley Jansen, Scott Alexander and Dennis Santana only gave up two runs over more than nine innings of work while striking out 10. They were able to pitch in and out of trouble all night and if not for these guys, the Dodgers bats wouldn’t have the chance to win the game in extra innings.
Up Next
The Dodgers will travel to Arizona to face the Diamondbacks, beginning a four-game series on Thursday at 6pm PST. Game 1 will feature Ross Stripling for Los Angeles and Robbie Ray for Arizona.
Stripling dazzled in his first start of the season going seven strong innings, gave up one run on four hits, no walks, seven strikeouts and picked up the win against the Giants.
Ray didn’t have as much success in his first start. He went 3.2 innings, gave up three runs on four hits, three walks and seven strikeouts in a loss to the Padres.
Jake Reiner covers the Dodgers for Dodgers-LowDown and is a reporter for KCBS/KCAL. Follow him on twitter @Reiner_Jake