Notes: Buehler, Betts, Heyward
09/16/2024 10:05 AM
The Dodgers ended a horrid week with a much needed victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, with Walker Buehler's contributions keeping his team within contention.
It was the first time since May 31 that Buehler had tossed at least six innings in a start, while allowing less than two runs since a scoreless six inning performance against the Cincinnati Reds on May 18. It's a brief, yet massive sigh of relief for a rotation that experienced troubles in the early innings in the first three games of the series against Atlanta.
Buehler's outing on Sunday helped reassure manager Dave Roberts' faith in his starter's ability to salvage his season ahead of their incoming postseason push, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
"It was huge," Roberts said of Buehler's outing. "Like I've said, I believe in who he is. But you do have to get results as a player to build that confidence, that momentum. This was a big step. It really was. I talk about performing and results at this time of the season and the results were very good."
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After six solid innings from Buehler on Sunday, the Dodgers opened the floodgates en route to scoring nine unanswered runs against Atlanta, including three consecutive home runs from Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman, and Max Muncy.
Mookie Betts, who gave the Dodgers the late lead with an RBI single, spoke about the team's seven run ninth inning, noting how the team remained confident in their mission to avoid a fourth straight defeat, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.
"Any time you break through, it's a sigh of relief," Betts said. "It's hard to keep confidence. But I think we've done a really good job in really staying confident and knowing that we can do it, keeping the pressure on until we do break through."
Jason Heyward has now been a Houston Astro for three weeks, and it his presence in the clubhouse has immediately been felt as the team searches to clinch their eighth straight division title.
Former Dodger now Houston reliever Caleb Ferguson spoke about the impact Heyward has had on his new team, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
"To see a player who's had a career like his be locked in every single pitch, whether he's playing or not playing, can open some eyes," Ferguson said. "It's like, 'Wow, OK, everything they do is with intent,' and I think it's good."
