Monday night was an evening of sheer excitement at Guaranteed Rate Field, leaving everyone in the Dodgers’ clubhouse scratching their heads in wonder. This bewilderment stemmed from an unusual and fascinating streak that continued in the Dodgers' 3-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. Let's dive into the details of this memorable game and explore the intriguing streak that had everyone talking.
Miguel Rojas and the Magical Streak
Miguel Rojas, despite not being the primary powerhouse in a lineup filled with stars like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernández, and the injured Mookie Betts and Max Muncy, has been a catalyst for victories. Rojas is having a commendable season, batting .284 with three homers, 11 doubles, and 15 RBIs in 49 games. But here’s the kicker: the Dodgers are now 23-0 in games where Rojas gets a hit. This streak was extended on Monday with Rojas contributing two crucial hits, including a leadoff double in the seventh inning that ignited a pivotal two-run rally in a previously scoreless game against the White Sox.
"I don't think there's any rationale behind it, but I guess you gotta keep betting on it, right?" Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mused. "It's one of those things where if it keeps hitting red [in roulette], you gotta keep hitting red or black. I'll take it. As long as he keeps getting hits, I know he's happy and we win baseball games."
The Unexplainable Streak
Even Rojas himself finds the streak baffling. “I don’t know — I just feel like whatever this is, I’m just trying to do my job, which is trying to get on base, trying to get hits,” Rojas said. “And, I mean, it’s been great. I’m just gonna enjoy it and ride it out until we’re like 40-0.”
Kiké Hernández, who drove in Rojas with a double in the seventh inning, was equally puzzled. “I don’t know — I can’t explain that [stuff],” Hernández said. “But numbers don’t lie. When he gets a hit, we win. Everybody knows what he brings on defense, and he puts up a quality, professional at-bat each and every time. He’s finding grass, finding hits. He’s been huge for us.”
Rojas first became aware of this streak during a series at Yankee Stadium in early June, but the streak reached almost mythical status on June 18. During a game against Colorado, the Dodgers scored seven runs in the ninth inning for an 11-9 win. Rojas, hitless in three at-bats up to that point, singled in the ninth following an Andy Pages walk. “It was kind of scary in Colorado because I was 0 for 3 until the last inning, when we were down by five and I decided to get a hit,” Rojas recalled. “As soon as I got the hit, I told [first base coach] Clayton McCullough, ‘Be ready, because we’re gonna win this game.’”
Pitching Duel and the Breakthrough
Before the Dodgers could rally for their win on Monday, they had to contend with the formidable White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet. Known for his blistering 99 mph fastball and a sharp 92.5 mph cutter, Crochet has been a force this season with a 6-6 record, a 3.05 ERA, and a league-leading 130 strikeouts over 17 starts. Crochet showcased his dominance by shutting down the Dodgers for 5 ⅔ scoreless innings, giving up five hits, striking out six, and walking none.
“He’s really good,” Hernández said. “He was mainly a two-pitch pitcher throughout the night, mixed in some changeups, but he throws really fast.”
Crochet managed to silence baseball’s hottest hitter, Shohei Ohtani, striking him out with a 91-mph cutter in the first inning, inducing a grounder in the third, and freezing him with a 98-mph fastball in the fifth.
On the other side, Dodgers left-hander James Paxton matched Crochet’s performance with his own set of skills. Although Paxton doesn’t throw as hard, he effectively utilized his four-seam fastball and knuckle-curve to blank the White Sox on three hits over five innings, striking out six and walking three. Despite needing 91 pitches to get through five innings, Paxton induced a season-high 18 swinging strikes, highlighting his ability to keep hitters off balance.
“Just executing the curveball better, getting it down in the zone, bouncing it when I want to,” Paxton explained. “I feel like before, I was leaving it in the zone and wasn’t bouncing it. That doesn’t get you swing and miss. … I was able to get the fastball up in the zone where I wanted it. Got some outs there too.”
The Pivotal Seventh Inning
The game remained scoreless until the Dodgers broke through in the seventh inning. Rojas doubled to start the inning and advanced to third on a grounder by pinch-hitter Gavin Lux. Hernández then looped an RBI double to left, putting the Dodgers on the scoreboard with a 1-0 lead.
Chris Taylor followed with a slow roller to shortstop Paul DeJong, who threw wildly past first base, allowing Hernández to score and Taylor to take second. This sequence extended the Dodgers’ lead to 2-0.
Then, the drama heightened as left-hander Tanner Banks replaced Wilson and faced Jason Heyward, who popped out to third. Ohtani walked, putting two runners on base, and then the skies opened up with a sudden downpour, causing a 30-minute rain delay. When play resumed, lightning and thunder added to the atmosphere. Will Smith walked to load the bases, but Freddie Freeman’s deep flyout to left ended the inning.
Securing the Victory
The Dodgers added an insurance run in the ninth. Taylor singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Heyward’s grounder, and scored on Ohtani’s sacrifice fly, making it 3-0. The bullpen then took over, with Daniel Hudson, Yohan Ramirez, Evan Phillips, and Alex Vesia each pitching a scoreless inning in relief of Paxton. Vesia retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his fourth save.
The game also featured some notable defensive plays. Andy Pages made a sliding catch of a Danny Mendick flare in the seventh and went to the wall for DeJong’s drive in the eighth, showcasing the Dodgers' strong defense.
In summary, the Dodgers’ win on Monday was a testament to timely hitting, solid pitching, and the continued magic of Miguel Rojas’s hitting streak. It’s a combination that leaves fans excited and the team hopeful for more victories.
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