Dodgers 12 Braves 6: Get Your Brooms Out

It’s time to get your brooms out because the Dodgers have swept the Braves in an offense filled game.

Scott Kazmir got the ball for the Dodgers this afternoon. He went five innings, allowed seven hits, three earned runs, struck out five and walked one. Kazmir struggled in the first inning when the Braves would score two runs on four hits. Two of those hits were doubles. Kazmir also got to chip in on the offense and had two singles today himself.

The Dodgers would bounce back in the bottom of the first inning and score two to tie the game. Trayce Thompson would single to center and then score on an Adrian Gonzalez double. Howie Kendrick would then single to center to score Gonzo.

In the bottom of the second inning, Enrique Hernandez would come up to hit a solo shot into center. Dave Roberts explained earlier today that he would be starting Hernandez over Scott Van Slyke in order to get him going and some game time. Hitting a home run off a right handed pitcher, sure looks like Hernandez is heating up. He struggled greatly against right handers so it was nice to see him take one deep. The Dodgers would keep the lead from then on out.

The Dodgers would score four more in the bottom of the third inning when Thompson led off with a walk, Kendrick singled, Joc Pederson singled to center to score Thompson and then Yasmani Grandal would come up a hit a three run home run! Coming to the plate in the third inning Grandal was just hitting .188 but he smashed that ball over the right field wall. The Dodgers now led by a score of 7-2.

Seager did it again! He hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning and then a two run home run in the bottom of the seventh. Not to mention his two RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning as well. In this three game series against the Braves, Seager hit five home runs. He now leads the majors with home runs hit since May 11. Since then, Seager has hit 12 balls that have gone yard. The young rookie is again carrying the team on his shoulders and clearly seeing the ball well. So well, it literally looks like the ball is being placed on a tee for him. Vin Scully while announcing his home run said:

“Seager has hit another one!.. and the Dodgers lead by 12-3… for Seager, a one-man band… have you ever seen a one-man band?”

The Dodgers before this series deeply struggled with the bats, so it is nice to finally have a player who is hot at the plate. After Seager’s two run single in the fifth and then a two run home run in the seventh, the Dodgers now led by a score of 12-3.

In the top of the eighth inning Chris Hatcher came in from the pen and gave up two runs to the Braves. The two runs came on three hits a single, double and then another single. Louis Coleman would then come in for the top of the ninth and allow a lead off solo home run to Brandon Snyder. Usually Hatcher giving up two runs and Coleman giving up one would bother me, but with such a large lead it all turned out okay. The Dodgers bullpen has actually been fantastic lately. Not including today’s stats, the Dodgers pen has the lowest ERA in the majors since May 21 to yesterday with a collective ERA of just 1.30. If they were going to have an off day, I am thankful that it happened today and not a close game.

Also in the words of Vin, Braves pitcher Matt Wisler “took one for his team” today. He only went four innings and was responsible for eight of the runs the Dodgers scored. He labored through every inning despite having a good second inning. The Dodgers capitalized off the young pitcher.

The entire game was filled with offense. The Dodgers ended the game with 14 hits, but the Braves were right behind them with 12 hits. Seager carried the team again. Kazmir struggled in the first inning but settled down and got two hits of his own. The Dodgers pulled together a great three game series that ended in a sweep. They are now 4.0 games back from the first place Giants, however the Giants have yet to play today. If they lose, the Dodgers will be 3.5 out, but if the Giants win the standings are back to 4.5 games.

The Dodgers will start a new series tomorrow with the Colorado Rockies, who have lost 13 of their last 17 games. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM.