Ohtani is just one stolen base and one home run away from becoming the fastest player in major-league history to reach 40-40. The Japanese superstar would be the first player in Dodgers history to do so.
The National League West leaders outscored the Mariners 17–7 in the interleague series. The Dodgers won their fourth consecutive game to increase their division lead to four games over Arizona and San Diego.
“What we did with those starters this series was a clinic,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said. “You could argue that starting staff over there is top-two [in] baseball. Grinding those guys, getting to the pen, [it] was one of our more impressive three-game series as far as beating the starter.”
The reeling Mariners have lost three in a row and eight of their past nine. They went 1–8 on their trip to Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles.
The Dodgers stretched their lead to 8–1 with two outs in the fifth. Freddie Freeman’s RBI double scored Ohtani, who singled, stole second, and took third on Logan Gilbert’s wild pitch.
Freeman scored on Teoscar Hernández’s RBI single after taking third on another wild pitch by Gilbert. Muncy’s double into the right-field corner drove in three more runs.
“They have a really good pitching staff over there, arguably the best in baseball, and to be able to just get a couple good swings off felt really, really good,” said Muncy, who came off the injured list earlier this week after missing nearly three months.
Gilbert (7–10) retired the first six Dodgers before they scored in each of the next three innings. The right-hander gave up eight runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, struck out seven, and walked two. He had three wild pitches, all of which led to runs.
Will Smith’s sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field extended the Dodgers’ lead to 3–1 in the fourth. Hernández walked, stole second, and took third on a Gilbert wild pitch.
The Dodgers took a 2–1 lead on a hard-hit double into the left-field corner by Mookie Betts with two outs in the third. Kevin Kiermaier reached on a fielding error by shortstop Leo Rivas, and Ohtani walked and scored from first without a play at the plate.
“I respect Randy as a player,” Flaherty said. “There’s no reason for me to hit him in that position, and he took exception to it.”
Asked what he said to Arozarena, Flaherty said, “It doesn’t matter. It’ll stay between the lines.”
Trainer’s Room
Mariners: Outfielder Victor Robles (hip flexor strain) sat out after getting hurt Tuesday while running into the wall in center trying to make a catch. He'll be re-evaluated Thursday.Up Next
Mariners: Right-hander Luis Castillo (10–12, 3.51 earned-run average) is scheduled to start Friday against visiting San Francisco.Dodgers: Right-hander Bobby Miller (1–3, 8.02) is set to start Friday against visiting Tampa Bay.
