Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez come to the rescue as Alex Vesia secures a win for the Dodgers

May 31, 2023

Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez come to the rescue as Alex Vesia secures a win for the Dodgers

The Dodgers secured a convincing 9-3 victory over the Washington Nationals, highlighted by J.D. Martinez's two-run home run in the seventh inning and a productive three-run inning in the eighth. However, the game took a tense turn in the top of the seventh when reliever Alex Vesia nearly squandered the Dodgers' three-run lead, drawing boos from the crowd of 46,571 at Dodger Stadium.

Starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin delivered a solid performance, allowing only one run and three hits in six innings. He handed the ball to Vesia with a 4-1 lead to start the seventh. Vesia, who had recently been demoted to triple-A but was recalled for this game, had struggled earlier in the season but showed improvement in his recent performances.

Unfortunately, Vesia encountered difficulties against the Nationals. Keibert Ruiz hit a home run off his first pitch, narrowing the Dodgers' lead to 4-2. Vesia managed to strike out CJ Abrams and induce a groundout from Ildemaro Vargas, but Lane Thomas doubled and scored on Luis Garcia's single, making it a one-run game at 4-3. With two runners on base, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought in closer Evan Phillips, who got Joey Meneses to ground out and end the inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Martinez provided some breathing room with a two-run home run, extending the Dodgers' lead to 6-3. Phillips then retired the Nationals in order in the eighth inning. The Dodgers capitalized on a hit batter, a Nationals error, a wild pitch, an infield single, and a double play, adding three more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Freddie Freeman contributed to the offensive surge with a solo homer, extending his hitting streak to 19 games.

Speaking after the game, Freeman praised the team's resilience, noting their ability to respond to the Nationals' runs by continuing to grind and battle in every at-bat. The Dodgers have maintained a competitive spirit throughout recent weeks, and Freeman highlighted their determination to make a game of any situation.

Freeman and Martinez have been leading the charge with their impressive hitting performances. Freeman has been on a hot streak, batting .455 (35 for 77) with five home runs, 12 doubles, 21 RBIs, and 18 runs during his 19-game hitting streak. His strong performance has boosted his season average to .344 with a 1.005 OPS.

Martinez, who recently returned from a lower-back injury, has also been swinging a hot bat. He is batting .310 (22 for 71) with eight home runs, four doubles, and 24 RBIs in the 17 games since his return. His season average now stands at .277 with a .922 OPS.

Freeman acknowledged the importance of keeping things simple and sticking to his approach at the plate. He recognizes that hitting streaks like this don't usually last long, so he's focused on making the most of it while it lasts.

Martinez expressed that he is in a good rhythm at the plate and benefiting from the strong production throughout the lineup. Contributions from players like Jason Heyward, Mookie Betts, Freeman, and Max Muncy have made the lineup potent. Martinez highlighted the fact that multiple players have the ability to step up and contribute on any given night, which takes the pressure off everyone else.

Despite not having his best stuff, Gonsolin delivered a gritty performance on the mound. He may not have been overpowering, generating only four swinging strikes and allowing several hard-hit balls, but he managed to retire the last 11 batters he faced. Gonsolin credited his defense for keeping him in the game, with notable plays from David Peralta, Freeman, and Betts.

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Freddie Freeman and J.D. Martinez come to the rescue as Alex Vesia secures a win for the Dodgers

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