Sunday, September 8, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
A day after the Los Angeles Dodgers had a bullpen game, Jack Flaherty gave his team exactly what they needed. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and Will Smith gave their team the needed offense. With the best record in the major leagues, the Dodgers shut out the Cleveland Guardians 4-to-0.
Jack Flaherty was perfect in the first inning while pitching in 110 degree heat.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything offensively in the first.
Flaherty allowed a single with an out in the second, and an error by Andy Pages let the runner go to second. He escaped from the jam scorelessly.
Max Muncy walked to open the second and was left.
Flaherty allowed a single with an out in the third. He didn’t allow a run.
Shohei Ohtani singled with two outs in the third and was picked off.
To open the fourth, Flaherty allowed a single but Muncy made a fantastic defensive play to get a double play. He struck out the last batter of the inning.
Mookie Betts tripled to start the fourth, and Muncy walked. Will Smith singled in Betts and moved Muncy to third. Tommy Edman walked to load the bases. Gavin Lux struck out. The Dodgers didn’t score any more runs.
Flaherty was perfect in the fifth.
With an out in the fifth, Ohtani blasted his 46th of the season.
Flaherty hurled a perfect sixth inning.
With an out in the sixth, Smith singled. Edman had an infield single moving Smith to second. The Dodgers didn’t score.
Flaherty pitched a perfect seventh.
With one out in the eighth, Flaherty allowed a single. Dave Roberts relieved him with Michael Kopech. He literally overpowered the opposition to end the eighth.
Muncy blasted a solo home run with an out in the eighth. Smith doubled and scored on Chris Taylor’s single.
Evan Phillips allowed two singles to start the ninth. He got a double play and then walked a batter. He struck out the last batter of the game.
