MLB
Ryu Shines, Dodgers Dominate Braves In Game 1 NLDS
Last night, Hyun-Jin Ryu shone and the Dodger bats were alive as the Dodgers dominated the Braves in game 1 of the NLDS, winning 6-0. Although many questioned Dave Roberts for starting Ryu in game 1 over Kershaw, doubters were silenced as Ryu’s performance was absolutely stellar. Ryu pitched 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits and 0 runs, striking out 8, with no walks. His pitches were moving and his location was spot on. One would argue that it was the most dominant game 1 postseason pitching performance the Dodgers have had in recent years.
Ryu had an amazing season, ending with a 1.97 ERA. This is an even bigger feat since Ryu had a groin injury that sent him to the disabled list earlier this year. However, he bounced back well and has continued to deliver ever since. Dave Roberts said the Ryu wasn’t happy about not making the postseason roster last year. Well, his performance last night definitely solidified how much Ryu deserves to be there this year and just how much of a Dodger asset he has become.
Bats Alive From The Start
Unfortunately for the Braves’ young ace Mike Foltynewicz, the Dodger bats were alive from the start. Joc Pederson set the tone early as he often did throughout the season. In fact, Pederson set an all-time Dodger record with 8 leadoff home runs during the regular season and kept it going last night with a leadoff bomb into the right-field pavilion, to put the Dodgers up early 1-0.
In the second inning, Max Muncy did what Max Muncy does and crushed a three-run “Muncy Mash”, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 nothing lead. The Beastie Boys’ “Brass Monkey” blared through the loudspeakers as Muncy was rounding the bases. Substituting Max Muncy’s name, “Brass Muncy” sounds perfectly synonymous and is something every Dodger fan has been singing every time he’s up as of late. Muncy has been the biggest surprise star of the season. The A’s straight up released Muncy in 2017 and the Dodgers signed him soon after to a minor league deal. Almost a year to the day later, Muncy was called up to the show in April. He kept performing so well that he couldn’t get sent back down. Muncy hit 35 bombs on the year and participated in the Home Run Derby.
Being up by four runs so early gave Ryu the confidence to not hold back and that’s exactly what he did. On the other hand, at two innings, Foltynewicz had his shortest start of the season. This made the Braves go to their bullpen extremely early. Later, in the sixth inning, Kiké Hernandez kept his hot streak going and went yard with a solo dinger. He hit it off of Brad Brach to put the Dodgers up 5-0. The Dodgers’ final run came in the eighth inning from a David Freese sac-fly to put the Dodgers up 6-0, where the score would stay.
Tonight’s Preview
Tonight, the Dodgers send their longtime ace, lefty Clayton Kershaw, to the mound to face off against the Braves 34-year-old righty Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez had a 2.83 ERA this season while Kershaw had a slightly better 2.73 ERA. Sanchez is 2-4 in the postseason with a 2.17 ERA. Kershaw has been dominant during the regular season throughout his career, while he has struggled in the postseason. Kershaw’s postseason record is only 7-7 with a 4.35 ERA. Kershaw needs to set the tone early and get in his groove. If he can do that, the Braves are in trouble, both for tonight’s game and for the rest of the series.
Since the Dodgers will be facing another righty, they will have their same starters as last night. However, they have tweaked Kiké Hernandez and Yasmani Grandal in the order. Grandal moved down to the eight spot and Hernandez up to the seven hole.
When the Dodgers score at least 4 runs Clayton Kershaw is an amazing 103-0! What do you say, boys, do you have at least 4 runs in you tonight?
Photo Credit: Ron Gallegos via Flickr
