The Los Angeles Dodgers made it three in a row against the Miami Marlins on Friday night. They started their homestand with a short, two-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners, and Friday featured two aces battling. Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers, and Sandy Alcantara for the Marlins. Alcantara came into the game looking like a true ace, with a 2.72 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 50 innings. Friday was the first night that Alcantara allowed more than four runs or pitched fewer than five innings all year. The main reason for this is that the Dodgers offense is getting their collective groove back.
Alcantara breezed through the first inning. After walking Mookie Betts on a full-count ball, he got the next three out on 10 pitches–a groundout and two strikeouts. The second inning, however, was not quite as easy for Alcantara. The Dodgers batted around on him, and scored eight runs in the process. The lone out he got in the inning was a strikeout, but after Max Muncy’s third homer in his third straight game, Alcantara got the hook. It never feels good to give up a three-run homer, but the slap in the face to Alcantara was giving up an RBI single to Kershaw, who later came in to score. The final score was 9-6.
Dodgers Offense Remains Hot
Every starter got a hit Friday night, which is a welcomed feat for an offense that has had its fair share of struggles so far this season. That is, after their 13-2 start. They totaled nine runs on 12 hits Friday night. A.J. Pollock returned to the starting lineup for the first time in a few games after stretching his hamstring against the Los Angeles Angels a week before. Unfortunately, he aggravated it again while running from first to third on an Austin Barnes double off the top of the wall. It will be hard to avoid the IL this time. This makes 32 hits for the Dodgers over their last three games–all wins. It looks like the Dodgers offense is back. Injuries are still a problem, but with an offense that is firing on all cylinders, those injuries can be overcome. Cody Bellinger is almost back, as are Tony Gonsolin and David Price. It will be interesting to see if they can keep this momentum going through two more with the Marlins, then four with the Arizona Diamondbacks to complete the homestand.
“Main Photo”
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Players Mentioned:
Clayton Kershaw, Sandy Alcantara, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, AJ Pollock, Austin Barnes, Cody Bellinger, Tony Gonsolin, David Price
