Jul 23, 20236 min read

Michael Grove Makes Statement in the Mound in Dodgers' Win Over Orioles

The Los Angeles Dodgers came into Baltimore looking to make a statement against an up-and-coming Orioles team that has been going at it with the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East lead.

That statement came in the form of a 10-3 blowout win highlighted by Jason Heyward's three-run home run in the midst of a five-run 2nd inning to take the first two games of the series against the O's.

Michael Grove had himself a night, with his best start in his MLB career, allowing just one run and striking out four in five innings in his second straight victory.

While there were times he got himself into full counts, he was able to deliver when it was needed most. Plus, he has shown considerable improvement against left-handed hitters, where he had trouble with all season long, limiting Baltimore's lefties to just two hits, thanks to his new form on cutters.

The MLB is approaching the trade deadline, and Grove, one of three rookie pitchers on the Dodgers alongside Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan, knows that the team could want to add to the rotation, but that hasn't fazed them.

The trio have been delivering solid starts, and that is what the Dodgers need until Clayton Kershaw and Noah "Thor" Syndergaard return from injury.

The pitching staff has improved vastly, especially the bullpen, and that showed that the Dodgers will continue to be a dangerous team. The rotation has been their strength all season long.

Offensively, the Dodgers made their presence felt in the 2nd inning where they had five runs, including Heyward's three-run homer off right-handed pitcher Tyler Wells. They followed up with back-to-back RBI base hits from Freddie Freeman and Will Smith.

While they didn't have a home run the rest of the way, LA built on it in the 7th inning with four more runs where they had four straight walks to start the inning, and five total. They pushed the lead to 9-1 with just one hit, that being on J.D. Martinez's RBI base hit.

Wells pitched for the first time in 10 days, lasting just two innings, his shortest outing of the season. Overall, the Orioles issued eight walks, had a season-high four errors, and were 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Aaron Hicks had two runs for Baltimore, who saw their eight-game winning streak snapped the night before to the same Dodgers team.

The Injury Front

Dodgers: Jake Marisnick, who entered for Heyward in the 3rd inning, left one inning later with left hamstring tightness. He has been placed on the 10-day injured list. Kershaw, who has been dealing with shoulder inflammation, threw more than 30 pitches in a bullpen session. He has not pitched since June 27th, and is not expected to return until next month.
Orioles: Cionel Pérez was activated from the injured list before the game, where he issued three walks in his first outing since July 2nd. To make room for him, the Orioles assigned left-handed pitcher Nick Vespi to the Norfolk Tides, Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate. Outfielder Cedric Mullins (right quadriceps), who had not played since the Orioles defeated the Miami Marlins on July 15th, said he hopes to return sometime during the week.

A Homecoming

LSU women's basketball player Angel Reese, a native of Baltimore who was named the NCAA's most outstanding player during the Tigers' run to the national championship, threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Scoring

LAD, Top 2nd: Jason Heyward homered to center (414 feet), J.D. Martinez scored and David Peralta scored. 3-0 LAD
LAD, Top 2nd: Freddie Freeman singled to center, Miguel Rojas scored, James Outman to second. 4-0 LAD
LAD, Top 2nd, Will Smith singled to left, James Outman scored, Freddie Freeman to second. 5-0 LAD
BAL, Bottom 2nd: Aaron Hicks doubled to center, Ryan O'Hearn scored on error, Hicks safe at third on fielding error by centerfielder James Outman. 5-1 LAD
LAD, Top 7th: Miguel Rojas scored on throwing error by catcher Adley Rutschman, James Outman stole third. 6-1 LAD
LAD, Top 7th: Max Muncy grounded into fielder's choice to first, Mookie Betts scored, Will Smith to second, Freddie Freeman to third. 7-1 LAD
LAD, Top 7th: J.D. Martinez singled to right, Freddie Freeman scored, Max Muncy to second, Will Smith to third. 8-1 LAD
LAD, Top 7th: Chris Taylor Walked, Will Smith scored, J.D. Martinez to second, Max Muncy to third. 9-1 LAD.
LAD, Top 8th: Will Smith reached on infield single to shortstop, Freddie Freeman scored on throwing error by shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Will Smith to second. 10-1 LAD
BAL, Bottom 8th: Ryan O'Hearn singled to right, Gunnar Henderson scored, Anthony Santander to third. 10-2 LAD
BAL, Bottom 8th: Aaron Hicks singled to left, Anthony Santander scored, Ryan O'Hearn to second. 10-3 LAD

Batting

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Mookie Betts: 4 at-bats, 1 run, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .282 batting average, .382 on-base percentage, .580 slugging percentage
1. Yonny Hernández: 1 at-bat, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .182 batting average, .231 on-base percentage, .273 slugging percentage
Freddie Freeman: 4 at-bats, 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, .323 batting average, .403 on-base percentage, .560 slugging percentage
Will Smith: 6 at-bats, 1 run, 4 hits, 1 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .285 batting average, .397 on-base percentage, .490 slugging percentage
Max Muncy: 6 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, .187 batting average, .322 on-base percentage, .444 slugging percentage
J.D. Martinez: 5 at-bats, 1 run, 1 hit, 1 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, .256 batting average, .305 on-base percentage, .558 slugging percentage
David Peralta: 6 at-bats, 1 run, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, .269 batting average, .307 on-base percentage, .406 slugging percentage
Jason Heyward: 1 at-bat, 1 run, 1 hit, 3 RBI, 1 home run, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .253 batting average, .349 on-base percentage, .468 slugging percentage
1. James Marisnick: 1 at-bat, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .237 batting average, .280 on-base percentage, .408 slugging percentage
2. Chris Taylor: 3 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, .210 batting average, .278 on-base percentage, .466 slugging percentage
Miguel Rojas: 3 at-bats, 2 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, .226 batting average, .277 on-base percentage, .278 slugging percentage
James Outman: 3 at-bats, 1 run, 2 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, .243 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, .421 slugging percentage

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Gunnar Henderson: 4 at-bats, 1 run, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .246 batting average, .341 on-base percentage, .463 slugging percentage
Adley Rutschman: 5 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .275 batting average, .374 on-base percentage, .434 slugging percentage
Anthony Santander: 3 at-bats, 1 run, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, .273 batting average, .345 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage
Ryan O'Hearn: 3 at-bats, 1 run, 1 hit, 1 RBI, 0 home runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .305 batting average, .355 on-base percentage, .510 slugging percentage
Austin Hays: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout, .308 batting average, .348 on-base percentage, .485 slugging percentage
Aaron Hicks: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 2 hits, 2 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .235 batting average, .329 on-base percentage, .393 slugging percentage
Colton Cowser: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, .111 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, .111 slugging percentage
Adam Frazier: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .235 batting average, .301 on-base percentage, .413 slugging percentage
Jordan Westburg: 4 at-bats, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 RBI, 0 home runs, 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .259 batting average, .322 on-base percentage, .389 slugging percentage

Pitching