Dodgers' offense opens up vs. Guardians
LOS ANGELES -- The last few weeks have been head scratching for the Dodgers. Their high-powered offense hasn’t performed up to their standards, particularly with runners in scoring position. Los Angeles has repeatedly talked about needing to find a sense of urgency.
In the 7-1 win over the Guardians on Saturday at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers looked a bit more like themselves, recording 11 hits and putting together some better at-bats in key situations.
“We haven’t been very good at situational hitting as of late,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “All throughout the lineup, for us to get a lead, to tack on. A lot of good stuff. Taking walks and some big hits. Much better offensive output.”
Before the game, Roberts was reminded that his team hadn’t recorded a sacrifice fly since May 28. Roberts took a minute before answering the question. He then reiterated the importance of doing “the little things” to win a game. The Dodgers have maintained that their effort and preparation haven’t lacked, but their execution has over the last month.
In the second inning on Saturday, backup catcher Austin Barnes came through with an at-bat the Dodgers have been looking for. Barnes got them on the board with a sacrifice fly to drive in Cody Bellinger, who led off the inning with a single. That at-bat seemed to open things up for the Dodgers.
Trea Turner followed Barnes’ sacrifice fly with a two-run homer, his ninth of the season. In the third, Justin Turner, who has struggled mightily at the plate this season, delivered a much-needed RBI double to drive in Max Muncy. Gavin Lux then drove Turner in with an RBI triple. In the sixth, Turner got the job done again with runners in scoring position, drawing a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead.
“We’ve tried to put an emphasis of bearing down a little bit,” Barnes said. “We have to start putting it on some teams a little bit. I think we win some games and stuff like that, but today was a little more of a complete game where we were taking our walks, people were getting hits and our pitchers did what they always do. I just think we need to start putting it on teams a little bit.”
The Dodgers’ improved offensive effort was plenty for left-hander Julio Urías, who continued his strong first half of the season. Urías struggled to find his command early, walking two of the first three batters he faced. A Muncy error put the Dodgers behind 1-0 in the first.
But once Urías found his groove, he was nearly unhittable. Urías didn’t allow an earned run and struck out six over six strong innings of work. With Walker Buehler out with injury, the Dodgers will continue to rely on Urías to be a consistent force in the rotation.
Through 13 starts, Urías has done his part. He improved to 4-6 on the season. His 2.56 ERA is 11th in the Majors among qualified starters. Over his last three starts, Urías has 20 strikeouts and has allowed just three earned runs over 17 1/3 innings of work.
“Aside from a frustrating first inning, I felt like I was able to throw well for six innings,” Urías said in Spanish. “I’ve been feeling good. There are things that I haven’t done as well because I’m a perfectionist, but I feel like I’m in a good spot and I feel like everything has been working well.”
After starting the month with a 6-8 record, the Dodgers were looking for a bounce-back win. They responded with one of their cleanest games of the month. The offense still needs to find consistency with runners in scoring position, as they went just 2-for-14 on Saturday. They’ll also have to do it without Mookie Betts, who will go on the injured list with a cracked right rib. But on Saturday, they did just enough of the little things Roberts has preached.
“I think if we focus on the small things and the decision-making process and whatnot,” Trea Turner said, “we’ll be more consistent overall.”