Dodgers Rally with a Strong Performance Against Nationals
WASHINGTON – So, let’s take a moment to breathe.
First off, the Dodgers’ offense hasn’t exactly hit rock bottom. The star player is still shining. It seems like the worries about a rough start to the season might have been a bit exaggerated.
At least for one game, they definitely lived up to expectations, securing a 13-6 victory over the Washington Nationals.
All it took was 16 hits and five home runs to ease the rising concerns.
The fireworks began in the top of the third inning. Shohei Ohtani, facing an early setback, launched a three-run homer into right field for his first of the season. Mookie Betts soon followed with another two-run shot, sending the ball into the left field bullpen.
After that, the Dodgers (5-2) kept the pressure on veteran pitcher Miles Mikolas.
Andy Pages continued his impressive season with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Freddie Freeman set off a four-run surge with his own two-run bomb in the fifth. Teoscar Hernandez contributed three hits, including an RBI double. And, as if to seal the deal, Kyle Tucker notched his first home run in the seventh inning.
This offensive explosion made Emmett Sheehan’s uneven 5 2/3 inning start almost irrelevant, overshadowing the three-run homer he gave up to CJ Abrams in the first inning.
Crucially, this game marked the first time this season the Dodgers displayed how lethal they can be when their top hitters are on point.
Up to that point, the team’s No. 1-4 hitters had managed a dismal .161 batting average. But on Friday, they collectively went 8-for-21 with 10 RBIs.
What It Means
Now, the question remains: can the Dodgers keep this momentum going?
Beating Mikolas isn’t necessarily a badge of honor. The former two-time All-Star carries a 5.00 ERA over the last four seasons and hasn’t fared well against the Dodgers, with a career ERA of 7.80. Ironically, he’s one of the rare MLB players to speak out against recent spending.
Nevertheless, games like this are what the Dodgers envisioned when assembling their record-breaking $415 million payroll.
“I think our offense is inevitable,” Freeman said earlier this week amid doubts about their slow start. And finally, they made that a reality.
Who’s Hot
Besides Pages, who’s hitting a team-leading .480, Ohtani and Tucker also shone brightly in Friday’s win. They each hit their first home runs and recorded their first multi-hit games of the season. Ohtani went 2-for-5 with 4 RBIs, while Tucker racked up 3 hits and 2 RBIs.
Before Friday, the two had a combined seven hits, with only one being extra-base, and an alarming 14 strikeouts. Although it was still early in the season, discussions about altering the lineup had begun.
Yet, it seemed too soon for such drastic measures. Roberts highlighted Tucker’s importance next to Ohtani in the batting order, stating, “Having him on base and being a threat changes the way teams approach Shohei.”
Who’s Not
As for Sheehan, while he managed to limit the damage after Abrams’ early homer, he still doesn’t quite seem like the right fit just yet.
For the second consecutive game, Sheehan’s fastball velocity noticeably dipped, averaging just 93.8 mph compared to his preseason average of 95.6 mph. Both Abrams’ home run and James Wood’s double in the first came against pitches that didn’t exceed 95 mph.
Roberts noted that the hitting coach had pointed out issues with Sheehan’s mechanics, hinting at potential improvements in his performance. “I think a lot of what he’s been doing lately isn’t typical,” Roberts remarked. “If he adjusts his direction, the velocity should improve, which would help his pitch mix too. We’ll see.”
With an 8.00 ERA and a troubling strikeout-to-walk ratio in his early starts, the 26-year-old right-hander has a journey ahead of him.
Next Up
The Dodgers will continue their weekend series against the Nationals on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. Tyler Glasnow aims for a solid outing after a shaky debut, while Jake Irvin will start for Washington, having limited runs in his first game this season.
