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For the first time since June 20, the Dodgers won a game at Dodger Stadium without needing a walk-off. After five straight walk-off wins at home, the Dodgers didn’t need to hit in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory, as they defeated the Padres 5-1.
It marks the 60th win of the season for LA — the most wins in franchise history by July 4.
The Dodgers wasted no time getting on the board. In the second inning, Max Muncy connected on his 21st homer of the season, sending it to the lodge level to give his team the 1-0 lead.
Kicking off #FourthofJuly with a BANG. pic.twitter.com/gXHfpni6xY
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 5, 2019
The Dodgers added two more in the fifth, sending seven hitters to the plate. Though they scored two runs and nearly batted around, they only had one hit, which was courtesy of Matt Beaty who led off the inning with a single. He’d be followed with back-to-back walks, loading the bases for Hyun-Jin Ryu.
After working a full count, Ryu struck out. With one down, Joc Pederson stepped up to the plate. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Pederson was hit in the shin, and a run came in to score. Alex Verdugo then followed with a sacrifice fly, making it 3-0 Dodgers.
Cody Bellinger hit his 30th homer of the season in the sixth. With the home run, he became the 19th player in National League history with 30 long balls before the All-Star break. There’s also this tid-bit as well.
In National League history, only two players under the age of 25 have hit 30+ homers before the All-Star break: Willie Mays in 1954 (31) and the @Dodgers' Cody Bellinger this year.#LABleedsBlue
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) July 5, 2019
On the pitching side of things, Ryu had yet another scoreless start. For Ryu, it was his seventh start this season in which he allowed no runs. Though he allowed no runs and only three hits, he “struggled” to find the zone. He walked three, which for an average MLB starting pitcher would be a normal amount. Not for Ryu.
It was the first time in 2019 he’s walked three batters in a game, and the first time it’s happened since April of last season. Nonetheless, he had a solid final start before he gets the start next week in Cleveland at the All-Star Game. He heads into the break with one of the lowest ERA’s in franchise history. Had it not been for his last start in which he allowed seven runs at Coors Field, his ERA would have been 1.20, a Dodgers record.
Best Pre-All-Star ERAs in #Dodgers history:
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) July 5, 2019
1. Don Drysdale (1968): 1.37
2. Zack Greinke (2015): 1.39
3. Sandy Koufax (1966): 1.60
4. Sandy Koufax (1963): 1.7271
5. Sandy Koufax (1964): 1.7274
6. Hyun-Jin Ryu (2019): 1.73
Thursday particulars
WP: Hyun-Jin Ryu (10-2) 6 IP, 0 ER, 5 K
LP: Dinelson Lamet (0-1) 5 IP, 3 ER, 7 K
Home runs: Max Muncy (21) Cody Bellinger (30)
Up next
The Dodgers will send Clayton Kershaw to the mound tomorrow night, as he makes his final start before he heads to Cleveland to pitch in the All-Star Game. FIrst pitch is at 7:10 p.m. PDT.