Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On an overcast Wednesday afternoon, the Dodgers’ offense exploded. Today was essentially a bullpen game when James Paxton pitched only three innings. The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a sweep of the New York Mets with a 10-to-3 victory, including a six-run eighth.
Before coming to New York, the Dodgers looked lifeless. The Dodgers needed that rain out on Memorial Day to reset. During the Mets’ series, the Dodgers did everything correctly. Will Smith hit his one hundredth major league home run. The Dodgers won’t see the Mets, a bad team with many injuries.
In the first, the Dodgers did nothing offensively.
To give Mookie Betts somewhat of a break, Dave Roberts started him at second base. James Paxton hit Pete Alfonso with an out in the first. His command problems continued to plague him. Alfonso must leave the game. Paxton hurled a scoreless first inning.
Will Smith opened the second with a solo home run.
Paxton hurled a perfect second, and his control was much better than in the first.
The Dodgers didn’t do anything in the third.
Paxton allowed an infield single and a single in the third, but he didn’t allow the Mets to score.
To open the fourth, Smith doubled and scored on Andy Pages’ single. Pages was caught stealing. Kike Hernandez singled but was stranded.
Yohan Ramirez relieved Paxton in the fourth and allowed a single with one out. Ramirez pitched a scoreless fourth.
Miguel Vargas walked to start the fifth and moved to second on an errant pick-off play. Shohei Ohtani singled in Vargas.
Elieser Hernandez allowed a leadoff single and a two-run homer in the fifth. He let Francisco Lindor reach before Dave Roberts brought in Michael Grove. J.D. Martinez doubled in the tying run. Grove didn’t have his usual good command. He walked a batter. Grove got out of the jam.
In the sixth, Teoscar Hernandez singled but caught off third.
Anthony Banda allowed a single to start the sixth but got out of the jam.
In the seventh. Mookie Betts reached but didn’t score.
Blake Treinen breezed through the seventh.
To open the eighth, Smith homered to give the Dodgers the lead. With one out, Jason Heyward tripled and scored on Miguel Rojas’ single after Gavin Lux walked. Vargas doubled in two. Ohtani blasted a two-run homer.
Freddie Freeman walked, but the Dodgers abandoned him.
Ryan Yarbrough allowed a two-out single but hurled a scoreless eighth.
In the ninth, Hayward hit a solo home run.
