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The weather in Los Angeles was hot on Sunday afternoon, but the Dodgers’ bats were hotter, as they hit seven home runs en route to their 11-3 victory over the Rockies. They swept Colorado, and now own an MLB-best record of 22-8.
Corey Seager got things going right away with the dinger-party, hitting his seventh of the season in the bottom of the first inning.
Lead the way, @coreyseager_5. pic.twitter.com/X9VzrEyFHN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
After a dinger from the Rockies tied the game, Mookie Betts joined the fun and hit his 10th homer of the season, the first Dodger to reach double digits. By the way, we’re going to be talking more about Betts in a little bit, so don’t worry.
First Dodger with double digit homers? Mookie. pic.twitter.com/UkugAQ3Rmt
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
The Rockies tied the game in the fourth on yet another dinger. If there was an over/under on Sunday afternoon for the amount of homers that would be hit, I hope you took the over! With two outs in the bottom half of the fourth, LA put together a two-out rally.
Joc Pederson and Max Muncy had back-to-back singles, bringing up Enrique Hernandez to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch, he connected on a 96 mph fastball and sent it the opposite way for a three-run dinger, putting the Dodgers ahead 5-2.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
They held off on the dingers until the sixth inning. After hitting a walk-off homer last night, Cody Bellinger hit his eighth homer of the season. He’s really beginning to heat up at the plate, as it was his fourth home run over his last five games.
Cody's 8th homer of the year. We can't make this up. pic.twitter.com/RhzwHSSV4Y
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
Will Smith was activated off the Injured List today. He hit a dinger.
Welcome back, @will_smith30! pic.twitter.com/2t2cmCvB3E
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
Max Muncy. Dinger.
6th homer today? That's that Mamba Mentality. pic.twitter.com/MK7doyYObO
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
Finally, back to Betts. He hit his second home run of the day in the eighth inning, giving him 11 on the season. The last time the Dodgers hit seven homers in a game was last September... against the Rockies.
WE SPOKE TOO SOON. pic.twitter.com/mJJH6jDllo
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
The pitching
Ross Stripling looked to bounce back after a few shaky outings. For the afternoon, he was okay for the most part. The only two runs he allowed came on solo shots, but a lot of Rockies reached base. Stripling was just able to limit the damage. In four innings, he walked two and allowed six hits. They had opportunities in the second and fourth innings with multiple runners on base, but Stripling was able to escape the jam.
He made only 64 pitches for the afternoon, but Dave Roberts thought that four innings was more than enough for Stripling. On the year, he owns a 5.46 ERA.
To no surprise, the Dodgers’ bullpen held things down the remainder of the way. Over the course of the final five innings, Victor Gonzalez, Dylan Floro, Adam Kolarek and Dennis Santana combined to allow only one run with five strikeouts and zero walks. The bullpen simply continues to shove.
Sunday particulars
WP: Victor Gonzalez (1-0) 2 IP, 0 ER, 2 SO
LP: Antonio Senzatela (3-1) 5 1⁄3 IP, 6 ER, 1 SO, 4 HR
Home runs: Corey Seager (7), Mookie Betts, 2 (11), Enrique Hernandez (3), Cody Bellinger (8), Will Smith (3), Max Muncy (7), Trevor Story (8), Sam Hilliard (3)
Up next
For the first time in nearly three weeks, the Dodgers have an off day on Monday. They will travel to San Francisco for the first time where they’ll take on the Giants on Tuesday. Julio Urias (2-0, 2.74 ERA) will get the start.