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The Dodgers kept their NL West hopes alive, as they defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 8-3. It all comes down to Sunday, where the Dodgers have a chance at tying the Giants and forcing a Game 163 on Monday.
All we need is a Giants loss and a Dodgers win, simple enough, right?
You get a home run! You get a home run!
I don’t know what has gotten into the Dodgers’ bats lately, but I love it. In their three prior games, the Dodgers have combined for 14 home runs. Each one of them seems to have come up in a very clutch situation as well.
That narrative remained true on Saturday night, as the Dodgers hit three more home runs to give them 17 in their last four games.
Their first homer came in the first inning and set the tone for the game. With two outs, LA put together a rally as Trea Turner and Max Muncy reached base. Justin Turner stepped up to the plate and crushed his 27th home run of the season. For the 36-year-old, it tied his career-high for home runs in a season.
The Dodgers scored three more runs in the fourth inning, with two of them being courtesy of a home run. AJ Pollock connected for his 21st of the season, tying his career-high in home runs. He hit 21 with the D-Backs in 2018. Since joining LA in 2019, Pollock has 52 home runs in 257 games. Pollock continues to be on fire, as he’s hit four home runs in his last four games.
Corey Seager hit a solo shot in the fifth inning, his 16th this season.
Julio Urias picks up win No. 20
I know that the whole “win” stat is a thing of the past, but winning 20 games is still very impressive in today’s game. Julio Urias picked up his 20th win of the season tonight, the only pitcher in all of baseball to reach that number.
“It’s a dream season,” Urias said following the game. “The focus, adrenaline and energy level was all at peak [tonight] knowing what was at stake. It kept me focused throughout the entire start.”
He was fantastic for LA, especially after the first inning. Things looked as if they’d get rough in the first inning, as the Brewers had runners on second and third with only one out. Urias ended up allowing a run, but that would be all Milwaukee would score off the lefty. After Eduardo Escobar doubled, the Brewers went 0-for-18 at the plate until Urias was taken out.
With one out in the seventh, Dave Roberts pulled Urias and made sure that he got the standing ovation he deserved. For the game, the lefty went 6 1⁄3 innings and allowed only one run on one hit. He struck out seven and issued two walks.
“Tremendous outing,” Roberts said. “We needed every bit of it. To cap off a tremendous regular season for him, really proud of him. It’s a feather in his cap winning 20 games. Those are hard to come by these days. Really happy for him.”
Urias finishes the season with a 2.96 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 195 strikeouts. Not bad for your No. 3 starter I’d say.
Saturday particulars
WP: Julio Urias (20-3) 6 1⁄3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 7 SO
LP: Corbin Burnes (11-5) 2 IP, 3 ER
HR: Justin Turner (27) AJ Pollock (21) Corey Seager (16) Willy Adames (29)
Up next
The Dodgers have a chance to tie the Giants in the NL West on Sunday. If the Dodgers win and the Giants lose, the two teams will play on Monday to determine the winner. Walker Buehler gets the start for LA. First pitch is at 12:10 p.m. PT.