LOS ANGELES – The Cleveland Guardians have the best bullpen in baseball this season. Opposing teams aren’t eager to get into that bullpen – unless maybe if it happens in the first inning.
The Dodgers chased Guardians starter Gavin Williams with a six-run first inning, creating dueling bullpen games Saturday night. The Dodgers’ relief relay won the duel, stranding 10 Guardian baserunners on the way to a 7-2 victory.
The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks both lost Saturday night so the Dodgers lead in the National League West is five games over the Padres, 6 1/2 over the Diamondbacks.
The Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning against Williams. Shohei Ohtani batted twice – and made two of the three outs.
But Williams wasn’t around long enough to see Ohtani the second time. He walked three in a row to load the bases, gave up a two-run, ground-rule double to Tommy Edman, a sacrifice fly to Gavin Lux, and an RBI single to Miguel Rojas before leaving after 31 pitches. The Guardians’ first reliever, Pedro Avila, took over and gave up a two-run home run to Andy Pages, in the lineup for the injured Teoscar Hernandez.
The Guardians’ bullpen lived up to its statistical billing after that, allowing just one more run over the next seven innings– a solo home run by Mookie Betts in the fourth inning. Betts has six home runs and 23 RBI in 24 games since returning from his fractured left hand in mid-August. In September, he is 9 for 20 (.450) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.
The Dodgers’ relievers, meanwhile, had to pick their way through a minefield to make the lead stand up. They did so by holding the Guardians hitless in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Michael Grove followed ‘opener’ Ryan Brasier and allowed a two-run home run to Lane Thomas in the second inning.
Rookie left-hander Justin Wrobleski was up next and he allowed five baserunners in his two innings – three walks, a double and a hit batter – and stranded them all.
Right-hander Blake Treinen took the fifth inning and came within a foot or so of allowing another two-run home run. But Kyle Manzardo’s drive just cleared Edman’s glove and hit off the top of the center-field wall, bouncing back onto the field for a double that put runners on second and third with one out. Treinen struck out Daniel Schneemann and Thomas to end the threat.
After a 1-2-3 inning from Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech gave up a leadoff single and stranded the runner at third in the seventh inning.
Brent Honeywell Jr. handled the final two innings uneventfully.
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