Even though the Los Angeles pitching was less than desirable, the Dodgers orchestrated an offensive explosion on Thursday afternoon to defeat the White Sox 11-9 on the road, winning the series two games to one.
Second baseman Max Muncy delivered the most damage for the Dodgers on the same day he was activated from the injured list, going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and five RBI.
First baseman Freddie Freeman broke free from a mini slump by going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI of his own.
Playing left field, Gavin Lux went 4-for-4 with three singles and a double, raising his average to a season-high .290.
After trailing by four runs early, the Dodgers kicked things into gear in the top of the fifth inning, exploding for six runs and recapturing the lead, highlighted by doubles from both Freeman and Muncy.
Los Angeles added four more runs in the sixth frame when Trea Turner scored on a Freeman single and Muncy delivered his three-run blast to left-field, which turned out to be the clincher for the Dodgers.
Lefty Tyler Anderson started the game for the Dodgers and was not his typical self, at least from what we’ve seen from him since arriving in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old veteran went just three full innings on an inefficient 81 pitches, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two.
Even though Brusdar Graterol, Caleb Ferguson and Evan Phillips all tossed scoreless innings for the Dodgers, the rest of the bullpen gave the team a scare, specifically the four runs Alex Vesia and Daniel Hudson combined to surrender in the eighth and ninth innings.
Hudson entered the game with the Dodgers leading by four in a non-save situation and ended up throwing 35 pitches to record three outs, stretching the nine-inning affair to well over four hours.
Graterol was the official game winner for the Dodgers, while righty Dylan Cease took the loss for Chicago after going 4-2/3 innings and surrendering six unearned runs on six hits.
Former Dodger AJ Pollock went 3-for-5 for the White Sox, including a ground-rule double in the bottom of the fourth that scored Jose Abreu.
Next up for the Dodgers is a three-game series in San Francisco that could see the return of Clayton Kershaw in the finale on Sunday.
Earned runs Dodgers lose 8-5
Sloppy game, but rather win sloppy than lose sloppy.
Rather win sloppy than lose clean. Scoreboard baby!
If Buehler has another short game tomorrow our bullpen will be in dire straits.
Tell Cleavinger, Moronta, Pepiot, Grove, Knack and Stone to be at the ready for a quick call up.
Where’s Pedro Baez?
Muncy certainly had a big day for his return and batting him cleanup worked today. But, I don’t think he should hit there as a regular spot until he demonstrates more consistency. I’ve thought for some time that Lux should be moved to second in lineup and Freeman to cleanup. I look forward to when Muncy, Bellinger, JT and CT3 join the rest of the lineup in running on all cylinders.