Final: Dodgers blowout Brewers in 10-1 win
The Dodgers tacked on three late runs against a position play to pull away in a 10-1 win, setting up a rubber match in this series tomorrow night.
Trayce Thompson led the way with two hits — including a key three-run homer in the second inning off Corbin Burnes — and four RBIs.
Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman also had three hits apiece and six combined RBIs.
Hanser Alberto even continued his success on the mound in mop-up time, throwing a scoreless ninth inning to lower his season ERA to 1.80.
The Dodgers are 85-37.
Final: Dodgers 10, Brewers 1
Dodgers extend lead while Tony Gonsolin deals
It’s been a bad week for Cy Young caliber pitchers at Dodger Stadium.
Two days after this year’s Cy Young frontrunner, Sandy Alcantara, failed to get out of the fourth inning, the NL’s reigning award winner, Corbin Burnes, succumbed to the same fate, getting knocked out of the game after just 3 2/3 innings.
Burnes gave up three more runs in the fourth — the last two of which were scored after Mookie Betts reached base on a wild pitch strike three.
Tony Gonsolin, meanwhile, has been dealing, giving up just one run in five innings.
Gonsolin had only thrown 77 pitches when he was pulled at the start of the sixth — likely in an effort for the Dodgers to manage their pitchers’ workloads.
End 5th: Dodgers lead 7-1
Dodgers jump out to early lead against Corbin Burnes
Last week, it took the Dodgers five innings to crack Corbin Burnes.
Tonight, they’ve been all over him through two innings.
In the bottom of the first, Mookie Betts doubled and later scored on a Freddie Freeman RBI single to open the scoring. Then, after Betts saved a run with a leaping catch at the warning track in the top of the second, the Dodgers struck again in the bottom half, when Burnes walked a couple batters before giving up a three-run homer to Trayce Thompson.
Thompson now has six home runs and 24 RBIs since returning to the Dodgers this year, in addition to a .284 batting average and .914 OPS in 45 games (30 starts).
End 2nd: Dodgers lead 4-0
Gavin Lux scratched with neck issue
The Dodgers scratched second baseman Gavin Lux from Tuesday’s lineup because of a neck issue, manager Dave Roberts said.
Lux will be out Tuesday or Wednesday, then reevaluated after that, though Roberts said he didn’t believe the ailment would lead to an injured list stint.
Trayce Thompson was added to Tuesday’s lineup as the designated hitter, while Chris Taylor was shifted to second base.
Here is the Dodgers full lineup for Tuesday, when former college teammates Tony Gonsolin (15-1, 2.12 ERA) and Corbin Burnes (9-5, 2.48 ERA) will face off for the first time in their big-league careers:
Theft on the rise: How the Dodgers became baseball’s improbable men of steal
The Dodgers’ preferred method of offense is to bludgeon opponents with a loaded lineup of power hitters proficient at working counts, hunting mistakes and giving themselves self-congratulatory taps on their helmets as they circle the bases.
Pointing out their proficiency at stealing bases is a bit like reaching under a stack of C-notes to rummage through the change drawer.
Stealing bases is so pre-analytics, so anti-Moneyball, so Maury Wills. Risking an out on the basepaths is nearly as passé as a sacrifice bunt. Stay put or be the target of a running joke.
Why then are the Dodgers exemplary men of steal?
Max Muncy reaches one-year contract extension, but Dodgers get blanked by Brewers
Max Muncy’s self-belief was wavering earlier this season as he floundered during his return from an elbow injury.
The Dodgers’ trust in the veteran slugger, however, never ceased.
It’s why the infielder, who will turn 32 on Thursday, continued to play every day, even with his batting average hovering around .160.
It’s why he still hit in the middle of the order, even as his trademark power flickered with just nine home runs in his first 83 games.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season: