The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t jump out to a first-inning lead like in the first two games, but the end result was all the same with a 7-0 win to complete a sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 24 wins during August are the most in Los Angeles franchise history and one shy of tying the all-time Dodgers record.
What’s more, the Dodgers finished 8-5 in the season series against the Diamondbacks and kept pace with the Atlanta Braves to remain four games back heading into their showdown at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the NL West is 15 — any combination of their wins and Diamondbacks losses.
The Dodgers’ scoring on Wednesday night came in twos, beginning with Freddie Freeman hitting a home run that nearly cleared the pavilion in right field. The 440-foot two-run blast was Freeman’s second-longest home run of the season, trailing only a drive that traveled 442 feet on July 25.
Freeman joined Chuck Klein (1930) and Todd Helton (2000) as players with at least 50 doubles and 25 home runs prior to September.
Jason Heyward, who was robbed of extra bases in the first inning, also hit a two-run homer in the third.
The Dodgers’ lead remained 4-0 until Max Muncy’s two-run double. That marked an eighth consecutive game with an extra-base hit for Muncy as he’s begun to turn around what had been an underwhelming and inconsistent season.
The table had been set for Muncy in part by Freeman’s double that left two in scoring position. Freeman moved to within two doubles of breaking the all-time Dodgers franchise record for most in a season.
That belongs to Johnny Frederick, who hit 52 doubles during the 1929 season.
Freeman already broke Shawn Green’s L.A. Dodgers record of 49 doubles that was set in 2003.
Joe Medwick of the St. Louis Cardinals holds the NL record with 64 doubles in 1936. Earl Webb set the MLB record for most doubles in a single season with 67 as a member of the Red Sox 1931.
Ryan Pepiot, Ryan Yarbrough cover Dodgers bullpen
Ryan Pepiot pitched five scoreless innings in his first start and third overall game with the Dodgers this season. Pepiot’s changeup remained an effective weapon and he allowed just four baserunners on the night (two hits, one walk, one hit by pitch).
Yarbrough followed Pepiot to complete a four-inning save that effectively gave the Dodgers bullpen a night off.
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