Dodgers break out early to beat Guardians

LOS ANGELES – The Cleveland Guardians have the best bullpen in baseball this season. Opposing teams aren’t eager to get into that bullpen – unless maybe if it happens in the first inning.

The Dodgers chased Guardians starter Gavin Williams with a six-run first inning, creating dueling bullpen games Saturday night. The Dodgers’ relief relay won the duel, stranding 10 Guardian baserunners on the way to a 7-2 victory.

The San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks both lost Saturday night so the Dodgers lead in the National League West is five games over the Padres, 6 1/2 over the Diamondbacks.

With injuries once again impacting the starting rotation — rookie right-hander Gavin Stone left the clubhouse with Dr. Neal ElAttrache at his side after Saturday’s game — the Dodgers’ offense came back to life after being held to one run in each of back-to-back losses. They have scored 69 runs while winning six of those past nine games.

“I don’t want to put it solely on the offense because the guys that we are running out there have still got to do their jobs, as far as on the pitching side,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I do know that the offense is aware of the fact that, what we’ve been going through as a staff. They can’t take nights off, at-bats off. When we need to add on or fight to get back into a game to give it to guys in the ‘pen, they need to do that. I’m seeing a concerted effort, which has been great.”

The Dodgers sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning against Williams. Shohei Ohtani batted twice – and made two of the three outs.

But Williams wasn’t around long enough to see Ohtani the second time. He walked three in a row to load the bases, gave up a two-run, ground-rule double to Tommy Edman, a sacrifice fly to Gavin Lux, and an RBI single to Miguel Rojas before leaving after 31 pitches. The Guardians’ first reliever, Pedro Avila, took over and gave up a two-run home run to Andy Pages, in the lineup for the injured Teoscar Hernandez.

“More than anything, I just kind of stopped overthinking things and talking to the people around that have seen me before and they have helped me. That’s helped me a lot,” Pages said of returning to the Dodgers after spending two weeks in Triple-A.

”Just working hard every day. Control what I can control and wait until they give me the opportunity.”

The Guardians’ bullpen lived up to its statistical billing after that, allowing just one more run over the next seven innings– a solo home run by Mookie Betts in the fourth inning. Betts has six home runs and 23 RBIs in 24 games since returning from his fractured left hand in mid-August. In September, he is 9 for 20 (.450) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.

“He’s in playoff mode. He’s taking great at-bats,” Roberts said of Betts. “Guys are following his lead and seeing what Shohei’s doing and what Freddie’s doing. Everyone else is sort of following suit.”

For his part, Betts said he had no expectation that he would need to ease back into things after missing nearly two months and taking only live batting practice before returning (no minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment).

“No, absolutely not,” Betts said. “I just wanted to make sure I was healthy and put the best Mookie out there, and I’ve been doing okay so far.”

The Dodgers’ relievers, meanwhile, had to pick their way through a minefield to make the lead stand up. They did so by holding the Guardians hitless in 13 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“We managed to make pitches when we needed to,” Roberts said. “It seemed like there was a lot of stressful innings and a lot of traffic tonight. But the guys made pitches when they needed to.”

Michael Grove followed ‘opener’ Ryan Brasier and allowed a two-run home run to Lane Thomas in the second inning.

Rookie left-hander Justin Wrobleski was up next and he allowed five baserunners in his two innings – three walks, a double and a hit batter – and stranded them all.

“He’s very green,” Roberts said of Wrobleski who has allowed 47 baserunners in his 32 1/3 big-league innings. “Talented, but there’s a lot to be cleaned up at this level. He had a quick ascent to the big leagues. I love the compete. He’s not afraid. The stuff is there. But … there’s as many balls as there are strikes. He’s got to learn to make quality pitches. But he’ll learn that in time.”

After a 1-2-3 inning from Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech gave up a leadoff single and stranded the runner at third in the seventh inning.

Brent Honeywell Jr. handled the final two innings uneventfully.