Los Angles Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks June 4
PHOENIX-- Before the start of tonight's game at Chase Field, Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1) was sitting crisscrossed on the turf by himself, focusing on his upcoming start. Everyone was mesmerized watching him just sit in the outfield, like a bump on a log. People were wondering, "How is this chubby guy the best pitcher in baseball right now,” let alone even pitching after the numerous injuries he's suffered throughout his career? Los Angeles shut out the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-0 in front of a pro-Dodgers crowd in front of 29,784 in downtown Phoenix.
The reigning National League Pitcher of the Month's command was vital (as it usually is) tonight as he delivered ground ball after ground ball, mixed in a few flyball outs. His final line was seven scoreless innings, no walks, and three hits lowering his ERA to a minuscule 1.38. In all 12 starts this season, he hasn't earned more than two runs and has had five scoreless outings in total. Cody Bellinger produced the game's first run, smacking a nicely placed changeup to straightaway center field for a triple off D-Backs rookie Taylor Clarke (1-2) to make the score 2-0 four batters into the game. Clarke settled down after the first inning to make it through five innings - a better start compared to his last in Denver. Kiké Hernández hit his 10th home run of the year and Corey Seager went 2-5 at the plate. Relievers Yimi Garcia and Scott Alexander each had a scoreless outing to end the game without giving anybody a heart attack. The Dodgers starters are 22-2 with a 2.13 ERA, 229 strikeouts, and 29 walks since April 25, and they're 16-1 with a 1.81 ERA in the last 21 games.
Los Angeles looks to sweep the series from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday afternoon at 3:40 ET.