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Six-run first inning propels Dodgers and Andrew Heaney to easy win over Nationals
The difference was night and day.
After scoring only four runs in two losses to the lowly Washington Nationals, the Dodgers took aim just after high noon Wednesday and immediately unloaded on left-hander Patrick Corbin in a 7-1 victory.
They scored six first-inning runs, rata-tat-tat, stringing together six consecutive hits with two out, effectively putting the game out of reach before many in the sun-drenched crowd had taken their seats at Dodger Stadium.
The beneficiary was starter Andrew Heaney, who pitched four scoreless innings in his first start in five weeks. His ERA in four starts this season is an impeccable 0.47. Effectiveness seems a given with Heaney, who signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Dodgers during the offseason.
More important will be how Heaney feels Thursday and beyond. Shoulder discomfort sidelined him for two months after his first two starts of the season, and after one start June 19 more shoulder discomfort sidelined him until Wednesday.
The last-place Washington Nationals rallied late to beat the Dodgers 8-3 on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
“I want to feel good tomorrow and actually pitch more than two games in a row, you know what I mean?†Heaney said with a wry grin. “I knew I’d be on a pitch limit to some extent, so I was a little annoyed with myself for having some long innings. It puts more strain on the bullpen guys.â€
Heaney threw 71 pitches, 40 for strikes. He fell behind in the count often and walked three. He said that while he lacked command of his fastball, he was pleased with throwing his slider for strikes.
“I thought he was really good through three and there was a little fatigue that set in,†manager Dave Roberts said. “His delivery started fighting a little bit, he started getting behind in the count, his stuff wasn’t as crisp.â€
Assuming he can remain healthy, Heaney will be a welcome addition to a rotation still missing the injured Walker Buehler and Dustin May. Heaney has given up one earned run in 19 1/3 innings over his four starts.
Corbin is healthy, but for the last three seasons it’s hitters who get healthy off his offerings. It’s a mystery that the Nationals coaching and analytical staffs can’t solve, a two-time All-Star who has devolved into the worst starter in baseball.
The left-hander signed a six-year, $140 million backloaded contract ahead of the 2019 season, and he helped Washington win a World Series title. Since then he can’t seem to get anybody out, and he’s owed nearly $70 million through the end of 2024.
No wonder there was speculation that any team trading for superstar slugger Juan Soto would have to take Corbin and his salary as well. However, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said on a radio show Wednesday he wants the biggest haul possible for Soto, and that means he won’t attach Corbin to any deal.
“We want to get the most for each and every trade that we do,†Rizzo said, “so we certainly are not going to tack on anybody’s contract to anybody’s deal, including Juan Soto’s or Josh Bell’s or anybody else.â€
Corbin’s ERA jumped from 6.02 to 6.49 after he lasted two-thirds of an inning against the Dodgers. Mookie Betts led off with a double that rattled the center field wall and after Corbin retired Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman the bludgeoning began.
Will Smith’s walk was followed by an RBI single from Justin Turner, an RBI single from Trayce Thompson, a two-run double from Hanser Alberto an RBI single from Austin Barnes, an RBI double from Gavin Lux and a single by Betts, his second hit of the inning.
“With an hot start like that, you are playing downhill a little bit and there’s less pressure,†Lux said. “It takes the pressure off the pitching staff and defense.â€
The Dodgers (65-32) failed to extend the lead until Lux’s single drove in a run in the eighth, but the Nationals (34-66) managed only five hits against Heaney and four relievers.
Dodgers defeat the Nationals, 7-1
David Price, who finished off the eight for L.A., returns to pitch the ninth. He walked Nelson Cruz and gave up a single to Lane Thomas to put runners at first and second. Luis Garcia flied to left. Maikel Franco grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
Final score: Dodgers 7, Nationals 1
Dodgers extend lead to 7-1
The Dodgers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. Trayce Thompson walked to lead off the inning. Hanser Alberto flied to left. Austin Barnes grounded to second, moving Thompson to second. Gavin Lux singled him home. Mookie Betts walked. Zach McKinstry, getting a rare plate appearance, walked to load the bases. Jake Lamb struck out swinging.
Score after eight: Dodgers 7, Nationals 1
Nationals score in seventh, Dodgers still lead 6-1
The Nationals got on the board in the top of the seventh inning against Jake Reed, who was brought up from the minors today. With one out, Lane Thomas doubled to left-center. He scored when Luis Garcia hit a ground-rule double to right. Makiel Franco grounded to second, then Tres Barrera struck out to end the inning.
The Dodgers went in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Score after seven: Dodgers 6, Nationals 1
Solid first inning for Dodgers pitcher Andrew Heaney
In his first start since June 19, Dodgers left-hander Andrew Heaney got off to a good start against the Washington Nationals. After recording the first two outs, he walked Juan Soto but struck out Josh Bell to finish off a scoreless inning.
Four scoreless innings for Andrew Heaney
Andrew Heaney’s first start off the disabled list was a success.
The Dodgers left-hander gave up only one hit and struck out four in four innings against the Nationals. He threw 71 pitches, 40 for strikes. Two of his three walks came in the fourth, but he got out of the inning with a 6-0 lead.
When he returned the dugout, he received congratulations from manager Dave Roberts, indicating his outing was over.
Score after four innings: Dodgers 6, Nationals 0
Mitch White doesn’t agree with his demotion and Dave Roberts understands why
Mitch White is clearly a big league pitcher. He’s posted a 3.70 ERA over 10 starts and five relief appearances for the Dodgers this season. He held the Nationals to two runs in five innings Tuesday.
His reward?
A demotion to triple-A Oklahoma City. And he wasn’t happy about it.
“It’s frustrating,†he said. “I belong here. I understand the thinking and our people making decisions do a great job. But it’s frustrating.â€
White certainly does not need minor league seasoning. He’s thoroughly conquered triple-A competition, going 2-0 and throwing 11 2/3 scoreless innings at Oklahoma City this season and going 3-0 with a 1.65 ERA over 43 2/3 innings in 2021.
The reasoning is this: The Dodgers embark on an eight-game trip Thursday with four at Colorado and four at San Francisco. The bullpen is expected to be taxed as it was Tuesday when Roberts sent Garrett Cleavinger back to the mound in the ninth after he’d given up two runs in the eighth simply because he wanted everyone else fresh for Coors Field. He was shelled for four more runs in the 8-3 loss.
Cleavinger also was optioned to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
“I could have used a couple leverage guys [Tuesday],†Roberts said. “I could have used Alex Vesia and then he’s done for two days in Colorado. You have to kind of stick to the program in the long run. It’s easy to say in the moment, do this. I’ve learned not to do that.â€
As for White’s demotion, Roberts had no problem with his being irritated.
“I would expect that response,†he said. “There’s a professionalism to Mitch saying he understands it, but there’s a competitor part that says ‘I don’t agree with it.’
“That was a hard conversation. I didn’t expect him to agree with it or like it. And he’s shown with his performance that his sentiments are right on.â€
Expect White to be recalled sooner than later, either for a spot start or to add length to the bullpen.
Good start for Andrew Heaney, great start for Dodgers’ offense
In his first start since June 19, Dodgers left-hander Andrew Heaney pitched a scoreless first inning against the Nationals. Heaney, who was sidelined with inflammation in his left shoulder. recorded the first two outs, then walked Juan Soto, but struck out Josh Bell to end the inning.
Mookie Betts led off the Dodgers and hit a ball off the center-field wall for a double. After Trea Turner moved Betts to third with a flyout to right, Freddie Freeman grounded to first against Patrick Corbin. With the infield playing in, Betts held at third.
Will Smith walked to put runners on first and third. Justin Turner singled to left to score Betts. Trayce Thompson followed with a single to left to score Smith and give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead. Hanser Alberto continued the rally with a two-run double to right-center to make it 4-0.
Soon it was 5-0 after an Austin Barnes singled to center scored Alberto.
It got worse for the Nationals.
Gavin Lux hit a fly ball to right center that should have been caught. But Soto in right and Victor Robles in center let the ball drop. Barnes raced all the way home for the sixth run and Lux was credited with a double. Betts, up for a second time in the inning, got an infield single to knock Corbin out of the game.
Erasmo Ramirez replaced Corbin and on his first pitch got Trea Turner to ground out to short.
Score after one: Dodgers 6, Nationals 0
Dodgers load up on right-handed hitters against left-hander Patrick Corbin
A day after loading up the lineup with left-handed hitters against Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray, the Dodgers will go with seven right-handed hitters against lefty starter Patrick Corbin in the series finale.
Freddie Freeman in the No. 3 spot and Gavin Lux in the No. 9 spot are the only left-handers. Lux, who made a costly error Tuesday night, moves from second base to left field.
Justin Turner returns to the lineup after being sidelined for five games because of abdominal soreness.
Austin Barnes is the catcher and Will Smith will serve as designated hitter.
With left-handed hitting Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger on the bench, Hanser Alberto is playing second base and Trayce Thompson is in center field.
How to watch and stream the Dodgers this season
Here’s a look at the Dodgers broadcast and streaming schedule for the remainder of the 2022 regular season:
Dodgers get two big reminders of what a mega-trade with Nationals costs in 8-3 loss
Josiah Gray and Keibert Ruiz, the über prospects the Dodgers traded a year ago to acquire Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, were the Washington Nationals’ battery Tuesday night.
Watching them toil for the last-place Nationals in an 8-3 win over the Dodgers, the questions were obvious although the answers are not. At least not yet.
Which team won the deal? Or was it a wash?
At the time, it looked like a steal for the Dodgers. But they didn’t reach the World Series and Scherzer didn’t re-sign. Turner, a free agent after this season, is playing at the level of a most valuable player, but wouldn’t the Dodgers need to win the World Series for the trade to be worth giving up arguably their top two prospects?