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| 7:10 PM PT8:10 PM MT9:10 PM CT10:10 PM ET22:10 ET2:10 GMT10:10 7:10 PM MST9:10 PM EST9:40 PM VEN6:10 UAE (+1)8:10 PM CT, May 30, 2023 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 46,571 |
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers look to stay hot vs. Nationals
Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers
- The Dodgers are 161-86 (.652) all-time at home against the Expos/Nationals franchise. Since the Expos were founded in 1969, the only NL team with a better home record against a single opponent (min. 100 games) is the Cardinals against the Padres (168-84, .667).
- Each of Washington's last 12 games have been decided by three or fewer runs, tied for the longest such streak by any team this season (Miami earlier this month). The Nationals' last single-season such streak of 12+ games was in May-June 2012 (13).
- Lane Thomas has hit safely in 14 straight road games, the second-longest road hitting streak by any major leaguer this season (Nathaniel Lowe, 15 straight). Thomas has a hit in 21 of his 24 road games in 2023.
- The Dodgers hit a season-high five home runs in their 11-10 loss to the Rays on Sunday. It was the second time this season an MLB team has lost despite hitting five or more homers (Giants at Padres on April 29).
- Trayce Thompson went 3-for-3 with a walk at the Rays on Sunday. It was Thompson's first time ever having at least four plate appearances and reaching base on all of them in any game in his big league career.
- The Nationals currently rank first in the NL in batting average (.266) and last in the NL in home runs (38). The last National League team to finish a season first in average and last in home runs in the league was the Baltimore Orioles in 1898.
Freddie Freeman had one of the best seasons of his accomplished career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and is in position to do even more this season.
Freeman will take an 18-game hitting streak into a meeting with the visiting Washington Nationals on Tuesday in the middle game of a three-game series.
Freeman's two-run double on Monday helped spark a six-run fifth inning that powered the Dodgers to a 6-1 victory over the Nationals. J.D. Martinez added a three-run home run in the frame as the Dodgers won in their return from a lackluster, 4-6 road trip.
"I had doubts through four (innings), but we found a way to show some life and get a win," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said about his team, which returned from the trip that ended with an 11-10 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. "When you're playing teams that are young and with nothing to lose, it gets tough sometimes, but it was good to come away with a win."
The victory was the Dodgers' 12th in their past 13 home games, and Freeman matched the third-longest hitting streak of his career. He last had a hit in 18 consecutive games during his MVP season of 2020 with the Atlanta Braves. He produced a 20-game streak in 2011 and a 30-game stretch in 2016.
Much of Los Angeles' home success has come thanks to Freeman's offensive contributions. He has hit safely in each of the Dodgers' past 11 home games dating back to April 30.
The Dodgers will send right-hander Tony Gonsolin (2-1, 1.82 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. In two career appearances (one start) against the Nationals, Gonsolin is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA. The loss was Gonsolin's only one in all of 2022, as he gave up four runs on six hits over six innings on July 25.
Washington will counter with rookie right-hander Jake Irvin (1-2, 5.32), who will be making his sixth career start. Irvin made his major league debut May 3 against the Chicago Cubs and earned his first victory one start later against the San Francisco Giants -- his lone road outing.
Irvin is coming off a four-inning start against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, when he gave up two runs on two hits with four walks. He has yet to face the Dodgers.
The Nationals have won two of their past three series, but their loss on Monday was the fifth time they dropped a series opener in their past six tries.
CJ Abrams drove in the only Washington run with a second-inning single, but his fifth-inning fielding error left him unable to turn a double play. Instead, the Dodgers took advantage and erupted for six unearned runs, a rally that included Freeman's two-run double and Martinez's three-run home run.
"Definitely, the margin of error is very small," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "They're going to come at you. They've got some good hitters. We knew that. And that guy that pitched today (Dodgers rookie Bobby Miller) did really well. We couldn't get anything going offensively."
The Dodgers have defeated the Nationals 11 times in the past 14 games between the teams going back to the start of 2021.
--Field Level Media
Updated May 30, 2023
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