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Reuters
The burgeoning Los Angeles Dodgers will give new outfielder Joey Gallo every chance to prove himself in the starting lineup for another game against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night.
Gallo, who was acquired from his New York Yankees on his deadline last week in a trade, hit a double against the Twins on Tuesday, his first extra-base hit in five games in Los Angeles.
Gallo basically replaced Jake Lamb, who was dealt to the Seattle Mariners at deadline, but cut playing time for productive, defensively minded outfielder Trace Thompson.
Since joining the Dodgers in a trade to the Detroit Tigers on June 20, right-handed hitter Thompson has been much better at pitching right-handed hitters. Left-handed pitchers hit Gallo and get those opportunities now. Thompson doubled as a pinch hitter on Tuesday.
"We're really embracing [Gallo's] new beginnings, new opportunities," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Gallo after a struggling year with the Yankees. What I'm proud of for is that we've been through all of that and got to the other side of it and continue to compete. will continue to support him mechanically and emotionally.”
Gallo scored a run but struck out twice. The Dodgers posted his season-high nine games in his 10-3 victory over the Twins on Tuesday. Max Muncy hit a home run and Trea Turner hit a three-run homer.
After left-hander Julio Urias was effective, the Dodgers called up right-hander Ryan Pepiot (1-0, 2.76 ERA) for a short two-game series his sweep. try Pitch Wednesday. The rookie hasn't faced the Twins in four career starts.
It is Twins right-hander Sonny Gray (6-3, 3.19) tasked with slowing the red-hot Dodgers offense. Against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday, he couldn't make a decision despite five scoreless innings. It was the third start of the season for him to keep at least five scoreless innings.
Gray has his 2.70 ERA in his four all-time starts against the Dodgers, where he is 1-3 in 2015 in Oakland. Got the only win.
This Tuesday loss left the Twins tied for first place with Cleveland and his Guardians in the American League Central. This means Minnesota has swept the top league spot for the first time since his June 24th.
“Considering what the standings look like on the final day of the season, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli talks about the club going 5-8 since July 26. They're a really good club, we know them, we see them all the time, we know what they are, they play well.
"You've got to find the groove again. You have to put the full game together again and find some sense of keeping things going."
Minnesota's Byron Buxton Tuesday. He hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning of 2016, hitting his 27th home run of the season, but otherwise, Baldelli was ready to forget about the contest and move on.
"When we come out [on Wednesday], we know we have to do more, run better and play better," Baldelli said.
– Field Level Media
