Dodgers Beat Twins for 10th Straight Victory

Chris Taylor, Max Muncy, and Joey Gallo hit home runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins in Los Angeles on August 10th. It was the 10th straight win for the Dodgers, who improved to 77-33, the best record in the majors.

The Dodgers are doing it with both excellent pitching and offense. Both Tony Gonsolin and Tyler Anderson are 13-1, and Jose Urias is 12-6. All three have ERAs below 2.73; the Dodgers’ team ERA of 2.89 leads the majors. On the offensive side of things, ex Atlanta Brave Freddie Freeman, in his first year in L.A., is hitting .325 with 15 homers and 71 RBIs. Shortstop Trea Turner is having a tremendous season, batting .308 with 18 homers, 81 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. Mookie Betts, the club’s normal lead off man, leads the team with 25 home runs. The Dodgers are also getting good production from catcher Will Smith, who has 16 homers and 62 RBIs. The Dodgers lead the National League in runs scored with 589 runs scored, which is a whopping 236 more than they’ve allowed.

Los Angeles leads the N.L. West by 16 games over 2nd place San Diego. The Padres went all out at the trade deadline, making deals for super star outfielder Juan Soto and 1st baseman Josh Bell from Washington and closer Josh Hader from Milwaukee. But San Diego is currently barely into the final N.L. Wild Card position. The Dodgers have nearly an insurmountable lead at this stage of the season, so unless Los Angeles has a collapse of historic proportion, the Padres will have to pin their post season hopes on a Wild Card.