SACRAMENTO – Dodgers manager Dave Roberts couldn’t help but smile when he shared his thoughts on Sutter Health Park.
“I’m not saying this is Denver,” he quipped. “But the ball keeps flying.”
During their first game in Sacramento, which is currently hosting the Athletics as a temporary home, the Dodgers took the win with a 9-4 score. It marked the start of a three-game series.
The game was a whirlwind right from the beginning, with 17 hits and three lead changes in just the first three and a half innings.
By the time the final out was made, there were four home runs and a whopping 33 base runners.
The Dodgers began a two-run rally in the second inning after a ball was lost in the sunlight, falling between two outfielders. Later, the Athletics made an error that led to an unusual bounce, allowing Max Muncy (the Dodgers’ slugger) to get an easy grounder past the Athletics’ third baseman.
Throughout the evening, strange bounces and unexpected moments kept the audience of 12,394 entertained in what some might call an unconventional MLB atmosphere.
Eventually, the Dodgers (55-30) began to assert their dominance.
Muncy hit two homers in the fourth inning, turning the tide and giving his team some breathing room. It started with his 17th home run of the season, followed by Andy Pages hitting a two-run shot for his 16th.
In the sixth inning, Shohei Ohtani made a statement with a massive 432-foot home run, the second longest of the season for the team. It was an impressive hit that likely wouldn’t have cleared fences in 30 other MLB stadiums.
Dodgers starter Eric Lauer found his rhythm after a shaky start, bouncing back from a two-run triple with three runs allowed. He managed to retire 10 of the last 12 batters he faced, setting the stage well into the sixth inning.
The Dodgers’ bullpen held strong for the final three innings, with Kyle Hart striking out the Athletics’ middle lineup cleanly in the seventh, adding even more drama to the night.
What it means
If all goes according to plan, Roberts would love to celebrate his 1,000th career win in front of the home crowd at Chavez Ravine.
Following this victory, he eyes that milestone this week in Sacramento.
With 999 wins, Roberts is on the brink of entering the exclusive 1,000-win club and would set the record for the fastest manager in MLB history to achieve this accomplishment.
Only three Dodgers managers have reached the 1,000-win mark: Tommy Lasorda, Walter Alston, and Wilbert Robinson.
Who is hot
The Dodgers’ lineup had a solid showing on Monday, with eight out of the nine starters recording a minimum of two hits.
Notably, Teoscar Hernández made a strong return after a month-long absence due to a hamstring strain, going 2-for-5 with three strikeouts, and adding depth to the Dodgers’ lineup, which leads the league.
Hernández made an infield hit in the second inning and immediately put his hamstring to the test, later hitting a line drive single at a brisk 163 mph in the third.
Before the game, he humorously remarked, “I don’t think they really need me in the lineup” given how well the team was performing without him. Yet, it’s crucial for him to stay healthy and productive moving forward, especially after last year’s groin strain.
“I’ve never had an injury before last year, so I’ll learn from that,” Hernández said. “Last year I tried to come back too soon. I think I messed up my timing and my hitting… This time, I communicated with the team that I wanted more at-bats and to feel ready before I came back to help the team out.”
Who is not?
Tyler Glasnow remains on the sidelines.
However, there’s a bit of good news: he’s restarted his pitching program after nearly two months of being sidelined with recurring back spasms.
Even so, Roberts mentioned the team is being particularly cautious with his recovery to prevent any further setbacks from this prolonged injury.
To the next
Roberts seeks that 1,000th win on Tuesday when Justin Robleski (9-2, 2.71 ERA) takes the mound against Athletics’ left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-7, 5.52 ERA).
