The Dodgers are on pace to win 162 games this season, as they kicked off their 2024 campaign with a 5-2 victory over the Padres.
Now, I have something I’d like to admit. I didn’t wake up at 3am for the game. I’m heading out on vacation today and I just couldn’t make it happen. I needed some sleep!
With that being said, I did wake up at about 5am and watch the rest. Not to take credit for the victory, but I was definitely the good luck charm.
When I started watching the game, the Dodgers were trailing 2-1. They were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and had left nine runners on base. We waited all offseason to see the greatest Dodgers team ever assembled. In their first game of the year, they were looking like the playoff Dodgers at the plate.
Well, after I tweeted that, everything changed. The Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs to start the eighth inning. Enrique Hernández crushed a ball that looked like it was long gone. Based on his instant reaction, he thought it was gone, too. It stayed in the park, but the Dodgers tied the game at two.
One of the craziest plays happened next, as Gavin Lux grounded out to first base. At least, that’s what it looked like. The ball somehow managed to go THROUGH Jake Cronenworth’s glove at first. Sometimes, you just gotta be lucky……
Having taken the lead, the Dodgers didn’t stop there. Mookie Betts drove in a run with a single, followed by an RBI single from Shohei Ohtani. In his Dodgers debut, Ohtani recorded two hits and stole a base. Just like that, the offense that couldn’t do anything all game pushed four runs across to give them a three-run lead.
That was all the offense needed to do because the pitching was excellent. In his Dodgers debut, Tyler Glasnow allowed two runs in five innings. He allowed only two hits, but did issue four walks. After finishing his spring on a dominant note, he didn’t look as sharp as previous weeks. With that being said, I’ll take a two-run outing as an “off day” any game of the week.
The bullpen was fantastic for the Dodgers, as they held the Padres scoreless. After a rough spring, Ryan Brasier was the first arm called from the bullpen. He tossed a scoreless frame with a strikeout.
Daniel Hudson followed, making his first regular season appearance since his season-ending injury from last year. He allowed a hit, but struck out one and tossed a scoreless inning.
Joe Kelly’s eighth inning appearance was brief, as he needed only eight pitches to get through a scoreless inning.
Evan Phillips was called to get the first save of the season for the Dodgers. He retired the side in order on only 12 pitches, giving the Dodgers their first victory of the season.
The Dodgers will do this again tomorrow at 3am. Once again, I will have to decline the enticing offer of waking up to watch. To be fair, I’ll actually be on vacation for this one.
I’ll see everyone when I’m back this weekend! Baseball is BACK!!!!
You know what I miss…being able to watch a full game recap. It’s nowhere now in the Dodgers universe that I can find. You can watch the whole game, or work your way through 10 highlight videos. They use to post on after every game on social media. Good victory, but lucky!
It’s just one game. But you gotta think Padre fans are quite fer klempt. Again!