In baseball, we often hear the saying, “good pitching beats good hitting.”
Often times, it’s true.
Good pitching can truly neutralize a powerful lineup.
However, this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers proved to be the exception to the rule.
Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, they made quick work of the team’s top three starting pitchers.
In 14.1 innings of work during the recent three-game series at Dodger Stadium, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Brandon Pfaadt allowed 29 hits, 18 earned runs, and 11 walks, while only recording eight strikeouts and posting a ghastly 11.30 ERA.
On Twitter, Bob Nightengale of USA Today posted these stats from the three Arizona starters, showing just how badly the Dodgers beat them.
The #Dodgers feasted on the #Dbacks top three starters of Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt during this 3-game series at Dodger Stadium:
14.1 innings
29 hits
19 runs
18 earned runs
11 walks
8 strikeouts
11.30 ERA— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 31, 2023
The Dodgers really made quick work of the D-Backs’ top three starters.
Gallen, Kelly, and Pfaadt are all key pieces in a stacked Arizona rotation.
However, even the mightiest of pitching staffs can fall short against a powerful lineup such as that of the Dodgers.
The Dodgers have Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, and other stars in their lineup.
And so, with these names in such a powerful lineup, the Dodgers proved to be an exception to the rule that good pitching beats good hitting.
It worked in the opposite direction during this series at Dodger Stadium, and the Dodgers ultimately secured a three-game sweep over their NL West rivals, knocking them to 15 games back of first place.
Los Angeles ran their winning streak up to four games with their sweep over their division rivals, and now own an 83-49 record.
