The Los Angeles Dodgers recovered from losing their first game to the Arizona Diamondbacks this season with a historic performance en route to a 22-1 victory at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night.
The Dodgers hit eight home runs, including two grand slams, and put together three innings with at least five runs scored. “Obviously we took a lot of good at-bats, hit the ball out of the ballpark, just all the way up and down the lineup,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game.
“AJ (Pollock) had a huge night, Justin (Turner), Mookie (Betts) scored a bunch of runs. Good to get some guys off their feet, out of the game early, get some other guys at-bats and just get to the next day. Certainly a lot of positives.”
The Dodgers set season highs with eight homers and 22 runs. That also marked the most runs any team has ever scored at Dodger Stadium and tied a Los Angeles franchise record.
The eight home runs tied a Dodgers franchise record, which now has been accomplished by the organization three teams, including against the Diamondbacks on Opening Day of the 2019 season.
Justin Turner and Mookie Betts made the Dodgers the first team in MLB history to hit two grand slams in multiple games of the same season. L.A. had their first two-grand slam game behind swings from AJ Pollock and Matt Beaty on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 2.
“It’s hard to score runs in this game, and to put up crooked numbers like we did, it’s as good as I’ve ever seen,” Roberts said. “I think it’s a byproduct of us a lot of times getting on base by way of either the hit or walk.
“When you can continue to stress pitchers and then you get a double or homer, those things happen. I think it’s just a byproduct of us finding ways to always get guys on first base.”
Cody Bellinger, AJ Pollock, Turner, Betts, Zach McKinstry and Albert Pujols each hit at least one home run; Pollock and Pujols had multi-homer efforts. Max Muncy drove in a pair of runs on a double, and Gavin Lux contributed a three-run triple.
Dodgers closing in on grand slam record
The Dodgers currently lead the Majors with nine grand slams this season, and that has them one away from tying a franchise record set in 2004. They previously hit nine grand slams in 2000.
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