Alex Freeland, Ryan Ward key Dodgers’ win over Phillies
The Dodgers had a pair debatable roster choices to make this week.
Primarily based on Sunday’s outcomes, they may have been proper on each.
In a 9-1 rubber-match win over the Phillies, the Dodgers had been led offensively by two current Triple-A call-ups, getting dwelling runs from Alex Freeland and Ryan Ward to take two of three video games on this Nationwide League Division Sequence rematch.
Alex Freeland went 2-for-3 with a stroll and two RBIs from the No. 9 spot, opening the scoring with a double off the wall in heart within the second earlier than extending the lead with a solo dwelling run within the fourth.
Ward additionally left the yard within the backside of the fourth, giving him his first profession dwelling run in his first profession sport at Dodger Stadium.
Firstly of this week, neither participant was on the Dodgers’ big-league roster. Solely after accidents to Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández did the necessity for reinforcements from the minors arrive.
Even then, Freeland and Ward weren’t assured to be recalled. For every of their spots, there have been different choices the staff may’ve thought of.
Freeland successfully received the nod over the since-demoted Hyeseong Kim, who was optioned again to Triple-A Oklahoma Metropolis after a current hunch value him his platoon job at second base. Ward, likewise, was known as up over breakout outfield prospect James Tibbs III, receiving solely his second profession alternative within the majors after a quick two-game cameo earlier this 12 months.
Each choices had been questioned by some corners of the fan base.
However on Sunday, any such doubts had been quieted, lifting the Dodgers to a fifth consecutive collection win.
What it means
After a late-game slip-up from Tanner Scott on Saturday night time, the Dodgers bounced proper again with their 14th win out of the final 17 total.
Of all of the victories in that span, Sunday’s was among the many most spectacular.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto navigated visitors in a scoreless 5 ⅓-inning begin, working round 4 hits, two walks and one hit batter whereas setting a season excessive with 10 strikeouts.
The Dodgers’ offense, in a refreshing change of tempo, additionally supplied him with loads of run assist, tagging Phillies rookie starter Andrew Painter with 4 runs in 3 ⅓ innings earlier than pouring it on late.
Along with Freeland and Ward, the Dodgers additionally received two hits every from Shohei Ohtani (extending his on-base streak to 16 video games), Kyle Tucker (snapping a 1-for-16 hunch beforehand on this homestand) and Max Muncy (together with his team-leading 14th dwelling run); and two RBIs apiece from Alex Name (on a pinch-hit single within the fifth) and Freddie Freeman (on a pair of sacrifice flies).
Who’s sizzling
Ward hasn’t gotten many at-bats throughout his restricted time within the majors this season.
However when he’s been on the plate, he has made probably the most of them
Throughout his MLB debut April 19 in Colorado, the longtime minor-league prospect had a pair of singles and an RBI. And after going 1-for-2 along with his dwelling run Sunday — he was lifted early for Name’s pinch-hit at-bat within the fifth — he’s now hitting .375 in his first three profession big-league video games.
Who’s not
Dwelling plate umpire Sean Barber, who had a whopping eight calls overturned by way of the brand new ABS problem system.
The primary two got here within the first inning, when backup catcher Dalton Dashing — who was beforehand simply 3-for-8 on ABS challenges from behind the plate this 12 months — received Yamamoto a pair of strikeouts by efficiently getting a pair known as balls transformed to 3rd strikes.
Freeman discovered himself on the opposite finish of the equation within the backside half of the inning, when he had what was initially dominated a stroll in a full depend overturned to a strikeout after already jogging all the way down to first base.
Not each ABS evaluate went towards Barber. The Dodgers and Phillies misplaced one problem every.
Nonetheless, the eight overturned calls had been only one shy of probably the most in a sport this season.
Up subsequent
The Dodgers head to Arizona on Monday for a four-game collection towards the Diamondbacks. The opener will function Emmet Sheehan (3-1, 4.70 ERA) towards left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (5-1, 2.31 ERA).
