Photo Credit: FOX Sports MLB on Twitter (@MLBONFOX)
Post-Game Briefing
After an off-day on Monday, the Dodgers arrived in Houston to face the Astros in their first road game of the season. With the series being just a two-game set, it was very important for the Dodgers to get off on the right foot and walk away with a win in the first game. With the help of Walker Buehler’s first start as a 26-year-old, a methodic station-to-station fifth inning that produced five runs, and a strong performance from the bullpen, the Dodgers achieved their goal against the reigning American League champions.
The game’s main storyline was framed as a grudge match between the two teams who participated in the 2017 World Series, a Fall Classic in which the Astros were found guilty of illegal electronic sign-stealing during and on the way to. The 2017 Dodgers came just one game short of ending a World Series drought that dates back to the franchise’s last title in 1988, a wound that was opened after the Astros’ cheating scandal came to light this past winter.
During the bottom of the sixth inning, Joe Kelly, a former Boston Red Sox reliever whose team was eliminated in the 2017 American League Divisional Series by the Houston Astros, seemed to retaliate with pitches thrown at Alex Bregman, Yuli Gurriel, and Carlos Correa. However, none of Kelly’s pitches made contact with hitters. Regardless, benches cleared after an exchange of words that followed an inning-ending strikeout.
Joe Kelly threw a 96 mph fastball at Alex Bregman 😳
(via @MLBonFOX)pic.twitter.com/SgwjDFA599
— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) July 29, 2020
Scoring Plays
- BOT 2ND: Correa solo home run (1-0 HOU)
- BOT 4TH: Correa RBI single (2-0 HOU)
- TOP 5TH: Betts RBI base on balls (2-1 HOU)
- TOP 5TH: Muncy RBI fielder’s choice (2-2)
- TOP 5TH: Turner RBI single (3-2 LAD)
- TOP 5TH: Bellinger RBI single (4-2 LAD)
- TOP 5TH: Taylor RBI base on balls (5-2 LAD)
DLD Play of the Game
Joe Kelly’s electrifying sixth inning, capped off by a strikeout of Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, shifted the energy in a game that the Astros had once held a 2-0 lead in. Paired alongside the antics that ensued following the strikeout, Joe Kelly earns tonight’s DLD Play of the Game:
Joe Kelly struck out Carlos Correa , told him to shut the fuck up, and stuck his tongue out at him. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/Os600WAtzP
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) July 29, 2020
DLD Player of the Game
After an opening series in which he hit a combined .150 in four games, Mookie Betts gave Dodgers fans a glimpse into what is in store for the foreseeable future. Betts hit his first double in a Dodger uniform in the eighth inning, capping off what was a 2 for 4 night for the former MVP. Betts also came in clutch with his elite plate vision in the fifth inning, opening the flood gates with a bases-loaded walk.
Up Next
The Dodgers wrap up their two-game series with the Astros on Wednesday with a scheduled first-pitch time of 4:10 PM PDT. The Dodgers have named Dustin May as their starter in the series finale, which will be his second start of the 2020 season. As of Tuesday evening, the Astros have not named their starting pitcher for Wednesday’s match-up.
Arrick Joel has covered the Dodgers since 2017. Follow him on Twitter at @ArrickJoel and follow @DodgersLowDown for more.