The Dodgers start off their four-game series against the Padres with an 8-2 victory thanks to Freddie Freeman’s home run among his three hits and Julio Uras’ five innings of scoreless pitching.
In Los Angeles The Dodgers’ three games against the Oakland A’s featured an in-game presentation and local broadcasts, all of which had a thinly veiled goal: to remind a last-place team whose future is uncertain of the time the Dodgers defeated them in the 1988 World Series.
The Dodgers triple-downed the A’s on the field. The Dodgers swept the visitors in three games, outscoring them 25-6, and their 8-2 victory on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium in front of a reported sellout crowd of 52,624 sealed the deal.
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The Dodgers (62-45) are ready to face a more fascinating challenge: a four-game series against the Padres, an NL West foe, in San Diego. The Padres (54-55) have won five straight games, while the second-place San Francisco Giants (61-49, 212 games down) have also won three straight games.
Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas said, “We had three opportunities to sweep during the last road trip, but we couldn’t get it done. We have to do that occasionally. We must keep racking up Ws. That is how you gain ground and assume a favorable position.
Freddie Freeman finished 3 for 5 with a home run, his 22nd of the season, while Rojas hit two run-scoring doubles. Of the 14 hits for the Dodgers, Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernandez both had two.
In his first start since July 25, Julio Uras (8-6) delivered five innings of perfect baseball. The left-hander had been dealing with a left index finger problem in the interim, but on Thursday, he claimed it was under control. He only walked one batter while striking out five.
Zack Gelof’s second home run of the series was given up by Emmet Sheehan with the Dodgers leading 2-0 in the sixth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Dodgers gave their response with four runs.
The highlight was a two-run double by Amed Rosario, who almost advanced two bases when a throw from the outfield missed every A’s infielder in the area. He took up residence at third base, and David Peralta finished the rally with a pinch-hit single that scored a run.
Max Muncy was replaced by Peralta after getting hit by a 91 mph fastball from Sears in the fifth inning and sustaining a left wrist contusion. Although the x-rays were negative, manager Dave Roberts noted that Muncy was “very sore” thereafter.
Sheehan was supposed to start the game in San Diego on Saturday, but he instead worked the final four innings to clinch his first career save. Who will rotate through next in the chain?
“TBD,” Roberts responded. “I think it’s safe to say that we will see (Ryan) Yarbrough at some point in the next few days. Simply put, I’m not sure what capacity.
Tuesday, shortly before the MLB trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for two minor league players. Yarbrough had started and relieved in seven games each with the Royals, so when he got to San Diego, he could do either.
But even if the Dodgers decide to deploy an opener, Sheehan’s switch to the bullpen signals they will require Yarbrough to pitch the majority of Saturday’s innings.
In the broad scheme of things, sweeping the A’s is a rather tiny accomplishment. Not including the occasion when owner John Fisher abruptly decided to move the club from its seven-decade home in Oakland to Las Vegas, it has occurred 15 times this season. At Dodger Stadium, a spattering of audible “sell the team” cries could be heard coming from angry A’s supporters.
The sweep was just another day at the office for the Dodgers.
You must attend to business, Freeman remarked. “Over there, they have a youthful team of players that are just starting out in the major leagues. When playing such people, we obviously need to take care of business, and we were able to do so.