Middle-of-the-order production drives Dodgers to sweeping win over Giants
The Dodgers’ big three opened the scoring Sunday afternoon when Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman hit consecutive singles to lead off the first inning.
But, in a perhaps auspicious sign for an at-times top-heavy lineup, it was the middle of the order that keyed a 7-4 win over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.
Unlike most days, when the Dodgers’ superstar trio typically carries the offensive load, the Nos. 4 to 7 batters in the order provided the most offensive fireworks.
Collectively, they went seven for 15 with six RBIs. They also orchestrated a pair of three-run rallies, helping the Dodgers (64-30) extend their winning streak to a season-high eight games and complete a four-game sweep of the Giants (48-47) for the first time since 1995.
Final: Dodgers complete four-game sweep of Giants with 7-4 win
The Dodgers have set a new season-high by winning their eighth straight game, beating the Giants 7-4 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep of their division rival.
The middle of the order came up big, as did the Dodgers’ bullpen, which combined for 4 2/3 scoreless innings.
The Dodgers are now 64-30.
The game ended with chants of “Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!” echoing around Chavez Ravine.
Final: Dodgers 7, Giants 4
Middle of the order helps Dodgers retake lead in the seventh
The middle of the order is getting it done for the Dodgers today.
For the second time this afternoon, the Nos. 4 to 7 hitters helped key a three-run rally, this time giving the Dodgers a 7-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Freddie Freeman got the inning started with a double to left, his slicing line drive dropping nearing the line after a bad route from Giants outfielder Yermín Mercedes.
The Giants then summoned sidearm right-hander Tyler Rogers to try and get out of the inning.
He couldn’t.
Jake Lamb hit his second double of the day in the next at-bat, bouncing a ground-rule two-bagger into the right field seats to plate the go-ahead run.
Gavin Lux followed with his second RBI single of the day.
Then, with two outs, Trayce Thompson sent an RBI double to the gap in right to drive in his second run of the day.
The middle four batters in the order have combined to go seven for 15 in the game with six RBIs.
End 7th: Dodgers lead 7-4
Giants tie game on Darin Ruf’s two-run homer, ending Clayton Kershaw’s day
Clayton Kershaw did not make it through the fifth inning.
After bouncing back with a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, the Giants got to the left-hander again in the fifth, when Wilmer Flores hit a double to left and Darin Ruf lined a two-run home run into the Dodgers’ bullpen.
The game-tying blast brought Kershaw’s day to an end after 4.1 innings, 4 runs, 5 hits (including three doubles and a homer), 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. His ERA is 2.49.
Top 5th: Tied 4-4
Dodgers retake lead with their own two-out rally
The Giants’ lead did not last long.
In the bottom of the third, the Dodgers responded with their own two-out rally, stringing together four straight hits — a Jake Lamb double, Gavin Lux RBI single, Max Muncy RBI double and Trayce Thompson RBI single — to retake the lead.
In this series, 20 of the 22 runs the Dodgers have scored have come with two outs in an inning.
End 3rd: Dodgers lead 4-2
Giants jump in front with two-out rally against Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in the second inning.
With the Giants threatening again in the third, however, the left-hander wasn’t so lucky.
After a two-out walk to Darin Ruf and a down-the-line double from Yermín Mercedes, Thairo Estrada lifted a two-run single to left to give the Giants the lead.
After the two long innings, Kershaw is now at 73 pitches.
Mid 3rd: Giants lead 2-1
Dodgers take early lead with help of their Big 3
A day after they all hit home runs in the same game, the Dodgers’ three superstars at the top of the lineup combined to give the team a first-inning lead.
Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman strung together three straight singles to lead off the first inning, with Freeman driving home Betts to make it 1-0.
They’ve been having a big month overall.
The Dodgers later loaded the bases, but couldn’t add anything else.
End 1st: Dodgers lead 1-0
Justin Turner misses out again as Dodgers go for sweep
Justin Turner is missing a third-straight game on Sunday, as he continues to battle discomfort near his ribs.
Manager Dave Roberts still didn’t have a definitive target day for Turner’s return, but hopes the third baseman will be available at some point during the team’s upcoming series against the Washington Nationals.
Turner was scheduled to swing a bat Sunday for the first time since getting hurt Thursday.
Here is the Dodgers’ lineup in his absence, as they go for a four-game series sweep of the Giants with Clayton Kershaw on the mound:
With Juan Soto on the block, Andrew Friedman looks ahead to Dodgers trade deadline plans
Andrew Friedman didn’t reference Juan Soto by name.
He didn’t have to.
As this year’s Aug. 2 trade deadlinedraws near, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations said the club has been running through the typical exercise of evaluating specific needs, taking stock of its farm system, and determining the ways to plug holes on the roster of a team vying for a championship.
Those aren’t the only calculations at play.
Not in a year someone like Soto, the Washington Nationals’ 23-year-old star outfielder, could be on the move.
“It’s more about assessing the specific need, and also the top-end type players that aren’t necessarily a need, but don’t become available all that often,” Friedman said during an interview Saturday, leaning against the railing of the Dodgers’ home dugout.
“When they do, you always see that process through. That’s kind of our mind set heading into these last couple weeks.”
ICYMI: Julio Urías thrives and three stars homer as Dodgers top Giants for seventh win in row
The Dodgers have started the second half of their season much like they finished the first.
They’re still getting excellent starting pitching.
Their star-studded lineup is still producing at the plate.
Most of all, they are continuing to win, picking up their seventh in a row — and third straight since the All-Star break — with a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
“I just think we’re playing good baseball,” manager Dave Roberts said. “When we can do that consistently, with who we have, you win a lot of ballgames.”
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: