True Blue LA - July 27: Dodgers 7, Nationals 1Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2022-07-28T07:03:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/230456532022-07-28T07:03:00-07:002022-07-28T07:03:00-07:00Leading Off: Good offense makes pitching woes disappear
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Washington Nationals 7-1 during a MLB baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/hw10ycj2DWDtvqoliTI1R48qg0E=/449x0:3322x1915/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71182582/1242152945.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Finishing off the 5-2 homestand</p> <p id="3YFWIg">A six-run first inning on Wednesday afternoon by the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> pretty much made all the bullpen concerns vanish, at least for a day. This morning’s <strong>Leading Off with True Blue LA podcast</strong> looks back at <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23281358/los-angeles-dodgers-washington-nationals-game-recap">the series finale against the Nationals</a>.</p>
<p id="lPIftG">Justin Turner returned and drove in a run in his first at-bat after missing five games, and Hanser Alberto had an extra-base hit for the fourth time in his last five starts. Gavin Lux had three more hits, and is currently fifth in the National League in on-base percentage (.378) and seventh in batting average (.301).</p>
<p id="EarjHW">That took the heat off the bullpen, who got a little bit of a reset even while using four pitchers to take down the final five innings on Wednesday. We look at the state of the bullpen heading into the always arduous long series in Coors Field, including the back end of the bullpen well rested going into the weekend.</p>
<p id="qGK2JA">Also, Pedro Báez is back, at least in Triple-A, for now. Sadly, I recorded this episode before possibly the most perfect Pedro Báez tweet possible, from Oklahoma City Dodgers play-by-play broadcaster Alex Freedman.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Making his first appearance with OKC, Pedro Báez was called for a clock violation before he threw his first pitch.</p>— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) <a href="https://twitter.com/azfreedman/status/1552469304427290624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="Aj2vHL">Podcast links</h3>
<p id="BpBweR"><a href="https://www.truebluela.com/podcasts/22758076/true-blue-la-podcast-dodgers">Ways to listen</a></p>
<p id="3GUVwf"><a href="https://feeds.megaphone.fm/true-blue-la">RSS feed</a></p>
<p id="tWc86y"><a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/true-blue-la?selected=VMP4615508581">Episode link</a> (time: 13:47)</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/podcasts/2022/7/28/23281897/dodgers-podcast-offense-outburst-pitching-woes-roster-movesEric Stephen2022-07-27T15:26:34-07:002022-07-27T15:26:34-07:00Dodgers take care of business early to wrap up the homestand
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<img alt="MLB: Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/p4G7Ho5ZMFYBP_BwB4iZlY1RVWw=/0x0:4960x3307/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71180786/usa_today_18753640.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers beat the Nationals 7-1</p> <p id="We7kkS">On a great afternoon for baseball in <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> Stadium, the Dodgers and Nationals played just like the Dodgers Nationals. That statement doesn’t seem like much, but following back-to-back losses to the last-place Nats, the Dodgers needed some normality before heading on a road trip.</p>
<p id="oOjsEn">The Dodgers entered today’s game looking to avoid a sweep that seemed like a distant possibility before this series began, and it didn’t take very long to do so with a crooked spot in the first, and the rest of the game in cruise control en route to a 7-1 win.</p>
<p id="1Cj2Du">The bats that were dormant through the first two games against Nationals pitching came alive in this one and did so early in the ball game.</p>
<p id="EsYsLo">Today’s pitching matchup was marked by beginnings and ends. Andrew Heaney looking to truly begin his promising Dodgers career after three successful, but scattered starts in the middle of two extensive IL stints. Heaney was carefully managed through this second trip to the injured list and came into this start with a very strict pitch count, expected to go roughly five innings and 75 pitches.</p>
<p id="Wjr7OI">The Dodgers’ starter struggled a bit with his command allowing three walks over four frames but maneuvered through that pretty well as the Nats’ only managed one hit off of him.</p>
<p id="T7HpB3">Heaney continued his established trend of shelving the changeup and going strictly fastball-slider with 75-percent usage on the heater that earned an impressive nine whiffs on 20 swings by Nationals’ hitters.</p>
<p id="dn1Quc">If Heaney is able to stay healthy through the second half, he is showing that he can be a tremendous addition to this rotation, and help take some of the pressure off Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson, who have been asked to step up through all these injuries.</p>
<p id="iELWXM">On the other side of the pitching matchup, it may very well have been the last outing from Patrick Corbin with the Nationals’ uniform, and if so its result is fitting with his recent struggles on the mound.</p>
<p id="P19D8O">No one knows for sure whether Juan Soto will be dealt by Tuesday’s deadline, or whether Corbin would be a part of the deal, but <a href="https://twitter.com/dcsportsbog/status/1552321535612014598">Nationals GM Mike Rizzo’s latest quote</a> certainly doesn’t exclude that possibility, he maintained maneuverability with some clever phrasing.</p>
<p id="evoQAL">The Nats’ veteran lefty struggled mightily and was ultimately unable to get out of the first inning, leaving having recorded only a couple of outs, and allowing more earned runs (six) than the entire Nationals’ pitching staff did through the first two games of the series (four).</p>
<p id="60DjSr">Eight of the first 10 Dodger hitters reached base in the bottom of the first inning to help drive off Corbin, and before everyone could settle into their seats, the score was 6-0 and a Dodger win felt inevitable.</p>
<p id="27RSoD">If there was something to lament over today’s events, is that through a period where the bullpen has been taxed, as was evident by the usage of recently called-up Garrett Cleavinger in a high-leverage situation up by one in the eighth on Tuesday night, and looking ahead at a four-game set in Coors Field, which is always a gauntlet, that Heaney wasn’t at a place where he could provide length for Dave Roberts, but that’s a bit of nitpicking.</p>
<h3 id="3P2qaj">Wednesday particulars</h3>
<p id="QVB3d3"><strong>Home runs</strong>: none</p>
<p id="zxvfsj"><strong>WP — Alex Vesia (3-0)</strong>: 1 IP, 2 strikeouts</p>
<p id="ixcP1e"><strong>LP — Patrick Corbin (4-14)</strong>: ... IP, 7 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk</p>
<h3 id="pRnSQm">What’s ahead?</h3>
<p id="xCezez">The Dodgers now travel to Colorado for a four-game series against the Rockies. José Ureña will take the ball against Tyler Anderson for the opener on Thursday (5:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA).</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23281358/los-angeles-dodgers-washington-nationals-game-recapEstevão Maximo2022-07-27T11:48:00-07:002022-07-27T11:48:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Nationals Game VI chat
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<img alt="MLB: Cleveland Guardians at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/06qAnrT45Q1VvvJN3ct3Ipx6Vec=/0x0:8001x5334/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71179762/usa_today_18565862.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Dodgers play the final game of their homestand</p> <p id="egTPPq">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> look to avoid the series sweep at the hand of the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>, as Andrew Heaney <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23279999/dodgers-roster-andrew-heaney-activated-starting-rotation">makes his return to the mound</a> following a second prolonged IL stint.</p>
<p id="QM1ZTW">It’s the final game of the homestand. It’s a duel between Andrew Heaney and Patrick Corbin on an afternoon affair in Dodgers Stadium.</p>
<h3 id="csKxFv">Related reading & listening</h3>
<aside id="ZuQDm1"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Heaney rejoins rotation, Reed called up to bullpen","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23279999/dodgers-roster-andrew-heaney-activated-starting-rotation"},{"title":"Justin Turner back in the lineup after 5 games out","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23280094/justin-turner-dodgers-lineup-abdominal-tightness"},{"title":"Leading Off: Dodgers clearly need bullpen help","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23280198/dodgers-podcast-bullpen-needs-mitch-white-unsung-mookie-betts-excellence"},{"title":"Mailbag: Send us your Dodgers questions ","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/26/23280034/dodgers-mailbag-questions-podcast"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="Pi2N3l">Dodgers-Nationals lineups</h3>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> lineup vs. Nationals: <a href="https://t.co/tsICN4gMuT">pic.twitter.com/tsICN4gMuT</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1552332600286404613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Teamwork = Sweep Alert <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NATITUDE?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NATITUDE</a> <a href="https://t.co/7GMTH5mNk8">pic.twitter.com/7GMTH5mNk8</a></p>— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/1552334781060374529?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2022</a>
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<h3 id="CU3Z0C"><strong>Game info</strong></h3>
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<li id="wzUlJS">Teams: Dodgers (64-32) vs. Nationals (34-65)</li>
<li id="O5ynJS">Pitchers: Andrew Heaney vs. Patrick Corbin </li>
<li id="g8HEKw">Location: Dodger Stadium</li>
<li id="BYbLUY">Time: 1:10 p.m.</li>
<li id="LhRUSe">TV: SportsNet LA</li>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23280565/los-angeles-dodgers-washington-nationals-game-threadEstevão Maximo2022-07-27T09:43:43-07:002022-07-27T09:43:43-07:00Justin Turner back in the lineup after 5 games out
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<img alt="MLB: San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OAjAJ9yktlnvepVpWJgjyaGlPAg=/0x0:3332x2221/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71179106/usa_today_18729855.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Last day of the homestand</p> <p id="9pFiPh">Justin Turner is back at third base for the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> for their series finale on Wednesday afternoon against the Nationals, his first time in the starting lineup since last Thursday.</p>
<p id="Vl6TCd">Turner left the first game after the All-Star break with abdominal tightness, then sat out the next five games as the team weighed whether he would require a stint on the injured list.</p>
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<p id="CmNGDQ">Manager Dave Roberts told reporters before Tuesday’s game that Turner was cleared by team trainers and was available to pinch-hit if needed in the middle game of the series, <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1552105046954766338">as shown on SportsNet LA</a></p>
<p id="KTcLh8">Turner on the season is hitting .256/.330/.406, a 109 wRC+ with eight home runs and 22 doubles this season, but he’s been especially hot recently. In July, Turner is hitting .404/.484/.558 with 12 RBI in 15 games, and he has a 1.045 OPS over his last 24 games. </p>
<p id="t9H4Om">Wednesday is Turner’s 865th game at third base for the Dodgers, third-most in franchise history behind only Ron Cey (1,468 games) and Adrián Béltre (957).</p>
<p id="5WrCJX">With southpaw Patrick Corbin starting on Wednesday for Washington, Dodgers left-handers Max Muncy (five hits in his last 49 at-bats, with 22 strikeouts) and Cody Bellinger (.583 OPS in July, .198/.239/.311 with a 55 wRC+ against lefties this season) are sitting.</p>
<p id="wRnWnw">Trayce Thompson starts in center field, with Gavin Lux shifting to left field and Hanser Alberto starting at second base. Austin Barnes catches the day game after a night game, and Will Smith is the designated hitter.</p>
<p id="WUF9hW">Andrew Heaney is on the mound for the Dodgers, activated off the injured list <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23279999/dodgers-roster-andrew-heaney-activated-starting-rotation">after missing a month with shoulder inflammation</a>.</p>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23280094/justin-turner-dodgers-lineup-abdominal-tightnessEric Stephen2022-07-27T09:38:34-07:002022-07-27T09:38:34-07:00Heaney rejoins rotation, Reed called up to bullpen
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<img alt="Cincinnati Reds v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OC9HBh7Odq4ykHS418e5JoOKpM4=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71179074/1392214306.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Jake Reed called up, too; Cleavinger & White optioned to Triple-A</p> <p id="jq6njY">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> activated left-hander Andrew Heaney from the injured list to start Wednesday afternoon’s series finale against the Nationals, after his second extended stint on the injured list with shoulder inflammation this season.</p>
<p id="8BHJYX">Heaney <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/24/23182177/andrew-heaney-injured-list-dodgers-left-shoulder-inflammation">this time around missed 28 games while sidelined</a>, after <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/6/19/23174144/andrew-heaney-activated-injured-list-dodgers">missing 53 games earlier this season from April to June</a>. To prepare for his latest return, Heaney made one rehab start for Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, then another in the Arizona Complex League. In the latter last Thursday, Heaney struck out eight in five innings and allowed a pair of solo home runs.</p>
<p id="Cy1JuE">So far this season, Heaney has made more minor league rehab starts (five) than major league starts (three), but when he’s been on the mound for the Dodgers he has been quite good. The left-hander allowed three runs, only one of them earned, in 15⅓ innings, with 23 strikeouts against only four walks.</p>
<p id="57V65q">His last major league start was June 19.</p>
<p id="IJ8RYG">Heaney <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/11/19/22792527/andrew-heaney-contract-dodgers-roster">signed a one-year, $8.5 million contract with the Dodgers in November</a>. The deal included up to $1 million in incentives, but with the first bonus ($250,000) coming at 100 innings, his two long stints on the injured list all but ended his chances at that.</p>
<aside id="kwG1aw"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Leading Off: Dodgers clearly need bullpen help","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23280198/dodgers-podcast-bullpen-needs-mitch-white-unsung-mookie-betts-excellence"}]}'></div></aside><p id="ysMkiN">In perhaps the most-telegraphed corresponding roster move of the season, Garrett Cleavinger was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after throwing 36 pitches to record five outs, allowing six runs while standing in the line of fire <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/26/23280250/dodgers-lose-lead-late-drop-second-straight-to-nats">for a bullpen that had half of its eight members unavailable</a>.</p>
<p id="BOggwJ">Mitch White was also optioned, almost certainly related to that aforementioned bullpen usage, because after going six innings on Tuesday he wouldn’t be available for the next few days, essentially leaving the Dodgers with a seven-pitcher bullpen instead of eight.</p>
<p id="Qo9E3c">Jake Reed gets the call up from Oklahoma City, where he pitched two scoreless innings over two games, with three strikeouts. The Dodgers <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/13/23207458/dodgers-jake-reed-waiver-claim-mets">claimed Reed off waivers from the Mets on July 13</a>.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/27/23279999/dodgers-roster-andrew-heaney-activated-starting-rotationEric Stephen2022-07-25T12:17:00-07:002022-07-25T12:17:00-07:00Dodgers host Nationals in a battle of extremes
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<img alt="The 92nd MLB All-Star baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tmcZT9OuWg0g0_IQzTvZjyztFco=/27x0:2930x1935/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71171350/1242008209.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>LA has won 11 straight home games</p> <p id="4TNIJa">In baseball, pretty much anything can happen on any given day, but the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> facing the Nationals is a colossal mismatch no matter how you slice it.</p>
<p id="JfZWLp">The Dodgers have the best record in baseball (64-30, at .681 just ahead of the 66-31, .680 <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a>, who have played three more games), and the Nationals are the worst, at 32-65. </p>
<p id="3RcuzS">The Dodgers have twice as many wins as the Nationals.</p>
<p id="2tUkqm">In July, the Dodgers haven’t lost a series and have won 19 of their last 21 games. Washington has lost 17 out of 20, and hasn’t won a series this month.</p>
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<p id="vYGZ3W">The Nationals have surrendered the most runs in the majors (5.49 per game), while the Dodgers have allowed the fewest (3.26). Los Angeles is second in MLB in scoring (5.18 per game) while Washington is 26th (3.82).</p>
<p id="aiJmXT">Unsurprisingly, given those numbers, the Nationals have the worst run differential in the majors (-162), while the Dodgers are second-best (+181).</p>
<p id="LVfVRQ">Oh, and maybe you’ve heard the Nationals <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/25/23276944/dodgers-juan-soto-nationals">are looking to trade</a> <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/25/23272324/juan-soto-trade-rumors-dodgers-nationals">their best player</a>, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/25/23274400/juan-soto-facts-mlb-trade-rumors">23-year-old hitting savant Juan Soto</a>.</p>
<p id="HSZjQy">It seems like Patrick Corbin hasn’t been mentioned recently except when referring to “Patrick Corbin’s contract,” which has a little over $9 million remaining this year <a href="https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/washington-nationals/">plus two more years and $59 million guaranteed through 2024</a>, as a possible attachment to a potential Soto trade. Corbin, who pitches Wednesday afternoon for Washington, has answered the bell every time, but has gotten his head kicked in.</p>
<p id="dZ2FOH">Corbin has the worst ERA (6.02) and worst xERA (5.62) among qualified pitchers in the majors, and he leads MLB in losses (13), hits (142), and earned runs (70) allowed.</p>
<p id="5x5rLD">The only Nationals starting pitcher to earn a win in July is old friend Josiah Gray, who is holding his own in Washington’s rotation, with a 4.40 ERA and 4.33 xERA, though he’s allowed 21 home runs, second-most in the majors. Gray pitches Tuesday, in what will be 371 days after his major league debut for the Dodgers, at Dodger Stadium, in a colorful pitching matchup against Mitch White </p>
<p id="RMvMnD">Gray allowed seven runs, including three home runs, in three innings <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/5/24/23140477/mookie-betts-home-runs-dodgers-no-off-day-yet">to the Dodgers on May 24 in Washington D.C</a>.</p>
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<p id="Pa5mEw">Tony Gonsolin starts for the Dodgers in Monday’s series opener, given a respite as his inning total mounts. Gonsolin last pitched for the Dodgers on July 13, allowing five runs in five innings in his only truly bad start all season. In between, he logged an inning in the All-Star Game, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/19/23270848/mlb-all-star-game-highlights-clayton-kershaw-mookie-betts-dodgers">where he took the loss by allowing two mammoth home runs</a>.</p>
<p id="5vpHKq">Gonsolin is up to 93⅔ innings this season, already his second-most in any season, counting the majors, minors, and playoffs. He pitched 139⅔ innings in 2018 for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa.</p>
<p id="HtrHHw">The Dodgers are also expected to slot Andrew Heaney back into the fold on Wednesday, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/21/23273620/andrew-heaney-dodgers-rehab-start-arizona-complex-league">after two minor league rehab starts</a>, which for this time through will mean a six-man rotation. What that means for Tuesday starter Mitch White going forward remains to be seen.</p>
<p id="K99VXm">The Dodgers took two of three games against the Nationals in May, with Los Angeles winning two blowouts before dropping a 1-0 affair on getaway day.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2022/7/25/23277601/dodgers-nationals-preview-both-ends-spectrumEric Stephen