Game One
[TUESDAY] The Dodgers offense turned in a great, smart game while Rich Hill pitched through a strong five and one third innings of baseball. With all of the pieces in place for LA, the Dodgers came through to win the first of two games in Oakland.
In Rich Hill’s previously mentioned five and one third innings, Hill fanned five batters, allowing both of his earned runs on a two-run home run hit by Khris Davis in the sixth inning. Hill did however walk four batters in his outing today, which appeared to be rooted from an issue with finding the release point of his curveball midway through his night.
The Dodgers didn’t have the home run working in the deep outfield of Rickey Henderson Field, so Dave Roberts opted to play small-ball in order to prove run support to Rich Hill’s winning effort. Austin Barnes, the nine-hole hitter, laid down two bunts with a runner on third base, working once for a successful suicide squeeze play. All other runs scored by the Dodgers came on RBI base hits.
The bullpen pitched great, giving up only one hit over three and two thirds scoreless innings. Kenley Jansen came on in the ninth inning to collect his thirty-second save of the season, leading the National League.
The Dodgers defeat the Athletics, 4-2. (Dodgers lead series, 1-0)
Game Two
[WEDNESDAY] Clayton Kershaw tossed a good game in Oakland, continuing his up-trend since the All-Star break. While Kershaw didn’t have his best stuff, the offense couldn’t get him the win, so he’ll have to be content with the no-decision.
Kershaw went six innings full, giving up two runs on six hits and no walks. Kershaw collected his first and only punch out of the game in the fifth inning on a called-strike punch out of Matt Chapman. In his career, Kershaw has never had an outing where he did not record a strikeout. Kershaw nearly ended that streak in Oakland.
The Dodgers’ opposing pitcher, Mike Fiers, carried a perfect game into the fifth inning which was promptly swiped by Yasmani Grandal’s twentieth home run of the season. Chris Taylor blooped a ball into left-center field to tie the game at two a piece in the seventh and take Kershaw off the hook for the loss, scoring Cody Bellinger.
J.T. Chargois came out of the ‘pen to replace Clayton Kershaw in the bottom of the seventh inning, and pitched well in the seventh. Chargois pitched so well that Dave Roberts felt comfortable pitching him in the eighth in an effort to give Dylan Floro more rest with a four-game series in Colorado on the horizon. On an error by Yasmani Grandal at home, Chargois was charged with giving up the winning run and was handed the loss.
While it appeared that Roberts wanted to rest Dylan Floro, he came on with one out in the eighth inning, relieving Chargois. Floro made quick work of the Athletics, striking out one and retiring the side on twelve pitches.
The Dodgers lose to the Athletics, 3-2. (Dodgers split series, 1-1)
Dodgers-LowDown ‘Player of the Series’
A player who seems to be making a resurgence for himself who played a huge part in the Dodgers’ efforts in this brief two-game series, is Cody Bellinger. Bellinger’s great play at the plate and in the field earns him Player of the Series honors versus the Athletics.
Bellinger’s Final Line:
- 6 AB
- 1 R
- 3 H
- 1 RBI
- 2 BB
- 2 SO
Arrick Joel has covered the Dodgers since 2017, and for Dodgers-LowDown since 2018. Follow @ArrickJoel and @DodgersLowDown on Twitter for more.