The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their winning ways on Wednesday with a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, backed by a strong performance from the pitching staff and contributions up and down their lineup.
Amed Rosario put L.A. on the board in the first inning with a ground out to drive in a run with the bases loaded. From there, Mark Cahna tied the game with a solo home run in the top of the second inning, but that was all the Brewers’ offense could get going for them.
The Dodgers took the lead again on Miguel Rojas’ third home run of the season in the bottom half of the second, and they added another run when they loaded the bases and J.D. Martinez reached on catcher’s interference for the second time of the game.
Will Smith increased the lead to 4-1 on a sacrifice fly following singles from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the fourth inning.
Kershaw got a whiff and a routine fly out on the two changes he threw in the 1st. pic.twitter.com/P1YOD4Bzos
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 17, 2023
Go ahead, Miguel Rojas! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/JokZkvIwbN
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 17, 2023
Homer No. 13 for CT3! pic.twitter.com/IR0lD5wr8p
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2023
Freddie Freeman with the quickness. 👀 pic.twitter.com/2oyut7OkkA
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 17, 2023
Gus Varland first out(s) and strikeout as a Dodger. pic.twitter.com/0uwFDUv56T
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 17, 2023
Victory formation!
Dodgers x @Yaamava pic.twitter.com/wZWNH4KFXg
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 17, 2023
The offense continued to produce in the fifth inning when Betts singled with two outs, which was followed by Freeman driving a ball to the warning track that center fielder Joey Wiemer was unable to catch, putting the Dodgers up by four runs. Smith then drove in another run with a single that scored Betts.
Chris Taylor gave the Dodgers insurance in the seventh with his 13th long ball of the season, giving the Dodgers’ their seventh run of the game.
Clayton Kershaw pitched five innings, giving up one run on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Following him, Brusdar Graterol, Ryan Brasier and Gus Varland combined to pitch the final four innings.
Gus Garland impresses in Dodgers debut
Facing his former club, Varland pitched two no-hit innings while striking out three and walking just one hitter. Varland was recalled on Tuesday to replace the injured Joe Kelly.
He began the offseason in the Dodgers’ system, but was selected by the Brewers in the Rule 5 draft, where he ended up making his MLB debut. He was later designated for assignment and returned to the Dodgers.
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