Friday, May 2, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On a picturesque Friday night Dodger Stadium, the powerhouses of the National League began a three-game series. In the twelve innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers inched out the Atlanta Braves 4-to-3. Gavin Stone pitched great for six innings. Daniel Hudson allowed the tying run, but Andy Pages had four hits for the first time in his career. His last was his first walk-off.
Mookie Betts was named the National League’s Player of the Month. While adjusting to a new position, Betts hit .377 with 6 home runs, 25 RBI, and 1.104 OPS. He planned to be a Dodger second baseman when spring training began, but when Gavin Lux struggled defensively at shortstop, the Dodgers moved Betts there. For the most part, he has been great at shortstop.
Gavin Stone picked off Ronald Acuna, Jr., before he allowed a solo home run to Austin Riley in the first.
With two outs in the first, Freddie Freeman doubled but was stranded.
The Arkansas native is trying to solidify his spot in the Dodger starting rotation. Stone walked a hitter and allowed a single in the second inning but got out of the jam. He wasn’t attacking the strike zone like in his last start.
To open the second inning, Max Muncy walked but was erased by a force out. James Outman was hit by a pitch. Gavin Lux singled, but Andy Pages was thrown out trying to score.
Stone retired the first two of the third inning, but Riley singled. He retired Matt Olsen to end the inning.
Shohei Ohtani walked in the third, stole second, and scored on Will Smith’s single.
Stone hurled a perfect fourth inning.
Teoscar Hernandez socked a solo home run to open the fourth inning to give the Dodgers the lead. Pages singled. Lux ended the inning by hitting into a double play.
Stone retired the Braves in order in the fifth.
The Dodgers did nothing in the fifth.
Stone allowed a single to open the sixth but allowed nothing else despite Freeman’s error.
The Dodgers did nothing in the sixth.
Joe Kelly hurled a perfect seventh.
To open the seventh, Pages singled but was erased by a double play.
Daniel Hudson allowed the tying home run to Acuna but finished the inning.
Ohtani walked with an out in the eighth, stole second, Smith was intentionally walked, but Muncy struck out to end the inning.
Evan Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the tie.
With an out in the ninth, Pages singled. The Dodgers couldn’t score in the ninth.
Alex Vesia allowed the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the tenth.
Ohtani singled in Chris Taylor, the tying run. The Dodgers couldn’t do any more harm in the tenth.
Michael Grove stranded the free runner at second in the eleventh inning.
Muncy was intentionally walked to start the eleventh. T. Hernandez hit into a force play. Pages singled in the winning run.
