The Dodgers came back after a bad loss to the Padres and took them to the woodshed. They played a complete game with good starting pitching, big hits, some great defense and of course an outstanding and unforgettable MLB debut by RHP Kyle Hurt.
Lance Lynn had two horrible outings prior to his start on Tuesday. He wasn’t overwhelming but was effective when he needed to be. He got out of a 1st inning jam when the first two batters reached, but retired Juan Soto, Manny Machado, and Xavier Bogaerts (with a K), to get out of the inning.
Lynn loaded the bases in the 4th with a Soto double, Machado single, and Bogaerts BB loaded the bases with nobody out and Trent Grisham representing the tying run coming to the plate. He bunted the first pitch right to Max Muncy at 3B who stepped 3rd and forced Machado with Soto scoring. But that was all the Padres got as he retired Matthew Batten and Brett Sullivan.
With the score 7-1, Lynn surrendered his patented HR in the 5th to Fernando Tatis Jr.
Lynn was at 100 pitches when he finished the 6th, and everyone thought he was finished for the night. Not so fast. Lynn came out for the 7th and retired the side in order. After 7 innings and 111 pitches, Lynn was through.
Next up for the Dodgers was 25 year old RHP Kyle Hurt. He was given an almost impossible task with facing Fernando Tatis, Jr., Juan Soto, and Manny Machado. He retired all three on three soft contact AB on 9 pitches.
He had to do one better in the 9th inning. He struck out the side on 15 pitches. This will be a game he will never forget.
I know it is one game, and he needs multiple appearances for Doc and AF to form an opinion, but Hurt sure looks like a late inning high leverage pitcher. He has the explosive fastball that sets up his swing and miss change. There was once a former LAD starter with an explosive fastball and devastating changeup that became a “Game Over” reliever for the Dodgers. That pitcher was Eric Gagne. It is waaaaaay too early to make any comparison, but it sure feels like Hurt might become someone special. Yes, I am easily impressed.
Offensively, the Dodgers were led by Freddie Freeman on his 34th birthday and Will Smith. They reached base 8 times out of 10. Each had a HR and a double. Freddie also had 2 singles, but could not get a triple. Smith also reached on a BB and HBP. This was the 4th HR Freddie has hit on his birthday.
Kiké Hernández had two hits and JDM had a 2 run single.
The Dodgers face off against San Diego one more time in 2023. Ryan Pepiot will take the ball for the Dodgers and will match up with LHSP Blake Snell. Snell has generally pitched well against the Dodgers. He has started 12 games against LAD and compiled 56.2 IP. He has a 2.86 ERA in those 12 games. He has 28 BB against 74 K against LAD.
The magic number for the Dodgers to clinch NL West Division crown 10th time in 11 years, and to reach the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season. Only the Braves (14 seasons, 1991-2005) and Yankees (13 seasons, 1995-2007) have more consecutive advances to the WS.
MiLB Game Summary Reports
Midwest League East Division Championship – Game 1 in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) 5 – Great Lakes Loons 0
Justin Wrobleski completed 5.1 IP. He allowed a run in the 4th on a pair of doubles. In the 6th, Tyler Robertson led off the 6th with his 2nd double of the game. After a fly out, Justin was lifted for Jack Dreyer. Dryer struck out his 1st batter and walked the 2nd. He then allowed a soft fly ball into CF for a single and the 2nd run charged against Wrobleski before striking out the final batter of the inning.
Benony Robles gave up a 2-out 3-run HR in the 7th inning to put the game out of reach.
Mitchell Tyranski pitched a scoreless 8th inning, with 1 BB and 2 K.
The Loons had 3 singles, a double, and 7 walks. They had traffic, and in Dodger playoff fashion they were 1-12 WRISP.
Key Performers:
- Jake Vogel – 2-4, double
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 1-4, 1 BB
- Kenneth Betancourt – 1-2. 2 BB
- Dalton Rushing – 0-3, 2 BB
- Alex Freeland – 0-2, 2 BB
California League South Division Championship – Game 1 in Lake Elsinore
Inland Empire 66ers (LAA) 3 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0
The Quakes were the second LAD affiliate in the playoffs to get shut out in Game 1. The Quakes were able to only get 2 singles and a BB on the night.
As I surmised, 20 year old RHP Christian Romero drew the start, and pitched well enough to win, except for his team getting shut out. Romero went 5.0 IP allowing an unearned run on 5 hits, no walks, and 5 strikeouts.
Garrett McDaniels relieved Romero. He pitched a scoreless 6th with traffic, but could not duplicate it in the 7th. He surrendered a single and 2 walks to load the bases. He was pulled with 1 out and the bases filled. Kelvin Ramirez relieved McDaniels. His first batter hit a sac fly for 1 run, and a wild pitch scored the 2nd. Ramirez finished the final 1.2 innings allowing one hit, 1 BB, and 3 K.
Jake Gelof and Jesus Galiz got the two RC singles.
OKC Dodgers 5 – Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle) 4 – 11 innings
32 year old LHP Robbie Erlin pitched his best game of the year. He completed 6.0 IP allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits, 1 BB, and 6 K. He spotted the Rainiers 2 runs before OKC tied it in the 7th with a Miguel Vargas 2-run HR.
24 year old Ricky Vanasco retired the side in order in the 7th in his OKC debut.
OKC took the lead in the 8th with a 2 out single to Bryson Brigman. Brigman stole 2nd and went to 3rd on a throwing error. Jonny Deluca walked and Yonny Hernández followed with a run scoring single and a 3-2 lead.
With 1 out in the 9th John Rooney retired 4 consecutive batters in his 1.1 IP before he was lifted for Ken Giles to close it out. Unfortunately Giles gave up the game tying run and a blown save.
In the 10th, with 2 outs and a placed runner still on 2nd, Bryan Hudson walked 2 to load the bases and Taylor Trammel singled to give Tacoma the lead. OKC tied it up in the bottom of the 10th. Bryson Brigman singled home placed runner on 2B Óscar Mercado.
Jake Reed pitched a scoreless 11th for OKC. For OKC, Jorbit Vivas started the inning at 2B. He moved to 3rd on a ground ball to 2nd. After an intentional BB to Tucker Barnhart, Óscar Mercado walked off OKC with a sac fly plating Vivas.
Key Performers:
- Yonny Hernández – 2-2, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI.
- Bryson Brigman – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Miguel Vargas – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (8)
Jake Marisnick made a rehab start and went 0-2 before Ryan Ward replaced him.
Michael Busch was removed from the game in the top of the 5th and replaced by Yonny Hernández. Michael went 1-2 while he was in the game.
Corpus Christi Hooks (Houston) 12 – Tulsa Drillers 0
The Hooks scored 12 runs by the 4th and needed no more as they shut out the Drillers. The Hooks scored their 12 runs on 18 hits. I will leave it at that and the box score below.
Well that was interesting. Early on Lynn looked frustrated, begging for strikes that were not in the zone. 111 pitches? He’s the only guy on this staff that can do that. Good for him. He got it done. And the offense lit it up. Like it when that happens.
Looking ahead on the ESPN site our starters the rest of the way are Lynn, Pepiot, Miller, Kershaw, Sheehan. The bullpen appears to be the Chavez Shuffle but also appears to be good. They better be.
Nobody in the NL is hot right now. Even Atlanta is 5-5. The streaks at the end are likely to be teams scrambling to get in the tournament. Look out for them.
Have to admit I’m a bit disappointed Vargas never made it back. I see he is getting some time at 3b. I still believe that’s where he belongs.
Lots of 110 mph contact with no or little loft kept the ball in the ballpark. I’m not ready to make him more than a 4 in rotation.
You mean like that 16 degree 2 iron shot that Machado landed in the seats? Yeah, that thing was smoked. But Lynn hung in there. He will obviously pitch in post season, unless Roberts burns him up between now and then. He won’t likely shut any team down but he could maybe eat up innings.
Lots of 110? SD had 8 hard hit balls (>95 MPH) as did the Dodgers. San Diego had 4 100 MPH exit velo hits while LAD had 7.
SD did have the two hardest hit balls Machado 111.7 (single) and Tatis 111.4 (GIDP). But those were the only 110+ hit balls. LAD had a 109.3 MPH (JDM) that went for a single as well.
Lynn average exit velo was 84.3 with only his slider averaging > 95, and that was just one hit ball. Wacha average exit velo was 87.4 with two pitches (sinker and curve) with average exit velo > 95. For most of the game, Lynn did pitch to soft contact. His last 2 innings:
6th inning:
7th inning:
He did allow the HR in the 5th, but the other two hit balls were < 73.4.
Lynn had 11 swings and misses (111 pitches), Wacha had 9 (86 pitches). Hurt had 6 in 24 pitches.
I will take a guy with those few hard hit balls who can throw 111 pitches and be effective at the end with pitches 101-111.
Lynn will be in the playoff rotation. He may get hit hard (and he may not), but he will be there.
Lynn is such a great competitor. He grinds, and pounds the strike zone. He’s going to give up a couple of dingers, but solo shots don’t hurt you as much.
Speaking of which, Kyle Hurt, pretty impressive stuff. That heater has some spin on it and those offspeed pitches were very tough to hit. Too early to say for sure, but just based on stuff, he might be a high leverage guy. What a great weapon that would be in the playoffs.
A couple of dingers? He’s leading the league! His SO’s are down and he is not keeping runners off the bases. If manpower is the issue, or lack thereof, I can understand using him. But trying to manufacture a positive spin on someone obviously losing their touch on a team like the Dodgers seems foolish. I can’t see him being here next season.
You saying that line drive that left yard (and Tatis hit it, not Machado) wasn’t 110? Sure looked like it. It was a 380’ rope.
I was surprised he went 7. I would have bet against it. In fact I would every time he pitches. But I would also bet nobody else on this staff will throw 111 pitches.
By the way, I’ve seen the prompt “Nonce is invalid” a few times when attempting to post. I have just kept hitting post until it does, but am curious why that is happening.
Tatis’ HR had an exit velo of 103.0. 27 launch angle. 380 feet. It would have gone out in 4 of 30 stadiums. Obviously Dodger Stadium was one of the 4.
Freddie HR – 101.2 exit velo, 25 launch angle, 387 feet, a HR in 4 out of 30 stadiums.
Will Smith HR – 106.4 exit velo, 27 launch angle, 412 feet, a HR in 23 of 30 stadiums.
I had to eliminate the hashtag before a number to avoid the nonce.
same here regarding ‘nonce’.
Hopefully, they will make a change at 3B next season. Max should be the full time DH, imo, since many think JD will be gone. OTOH, Vargas could be packaged in a trade for a full time 3B player or SP.
Kershaws next start is pushed back again? And this despite Roberts continuing to say it has nothing to do w an injury blah blah blah.I find that very hard to believe.
I know Roberts is just the mouthpiece but I’m finding more and more I question what he says.
Yeah, I think it’s management spin. He’s required to answer questions but he’s not required to say anything. And he’s pretty good at that.
That final wipeout strikeout pitch by Hurt was devastating.
Hopefully he gets a few more chances to show he might be needed in Oct, when we’ll likely be using 10 pitchers a game.
After the game, the Padres placed Rich Hill on waivers. I have a sneaky feeling that ol Dick Mountain is finished.
Midwest League East Division Game 2 pitchers:
Fort Wayne TinCaps (San Diego) – 26 year old LHSP Miguel Cienfuegos. Cienfuegos at Fort Wayne – 18 games, 16 starts, record 2-5, 59.0 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, .225 BAA, 41 K and 24 BB.
Great Lakes Loons – 21 year old LHSP Maddux Bruns. Bruns at Great Lakes – 20 games, 20 starts, record 0-7, 76.0 IP, 4.74 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, .205 BAA, 93 K, 54 BB
It is hard to get a win as a starting pitcher when you only go 5.0 IP twice in 26 starts (including Rancho). Bruns’ top IP outputs in 2023.
5.0 IP – 2X
4.2 IP – 1X
4.1 IP – 3X
Cienfuegos’ top IP outputs in 2023.
6.0 IP – 3X
5.1 IP – 2X
5.0 IP – 2X
Bruns’ control is better this year, but certainly not where he or the organization want. How does a pitcher with a 60 fastball, 60 curve, 60 slider, and 50 change have an overall value of 45? Because his control is 40. Bruns has a 11.01 K/9 but a 6.39 BB/9. Bruns has a ceiling of a front of the rotation pitcher, but one with huuuuuge reliever risk, and a floor of a AAAA pitcher.
I cannot link the story because it is a paid site, but anyone who has a subscription to The Athletic, there is a story that is a MUST READ. It is about LAA prospect Zac Kristofak and the unthinkable. He was 15 years old when his father murdered his mother in the driveway of their home as she was coming home from taking him to baseball practice. It also touches on how the neighbor family of his best friend and current Washington Nationals infielder, Carter Kieboom, took over the void of losing his mother.
One of the best reads I have read in a long time.
His Father Murdered His Mother. Now, an Angels Prospect Is Finding the Light
By Sam Blum, published today
Max Scherzer is out for the season with a teres major strain. I guess that trade did not go so well for Texas. For all out there that were upset that the Dodgers did not trade for Scherzer, how is that working out?
I can only speak for myself when I say that after he quit before game 6 of the 21 NLCS, I never wanted to see him in a Dodger’s uniform again.
Which is why I was surprised so many wanted him back. As I said about this current LAD team, there are no Max Scherzers.
Damn, Rangers can’t catch a break.
You make your own luck.
Kyle Hurt has been optioned to OKC and Joe Kelly has been reinstated.
Curious move, but shows the importance of options.
Sorry, Kyle, not good enough.
We expected 4k’s in 2 perfect ip
lol. He looked mighty good to me.