LOS ANGELES – The offense awoke from its slumber.
The Dodgers offense erupted for four homers, 12 runs and 14 hits as Los Angeles annihilated the Atlanta Braves, 12-6, on Sunday afternoon to complete the three-game sweep.
It was the team's third sweep of the season, second consecutive series sweep at home, and seventh straight win overall at Dodger Stadium.
"We handled our business," said rookie Corey Seager who had two home runs in the game. "This was a big day. This is one of those days where we can really get stuff started. It was a lot of fun."
Both bats were ablaze from the start as the Braves got on the board first with a pair of doubles and singles in the top of the first inning off Dodgers' starter Scott Kazmir.
"My quad was cramping to start the game and I was unable to get that stride I wanted to start the game," Kazmir said. "It started to loosen up a bit between innings and on the base paths."
Kazmir (5-3) settled down from there, allowing just one run the rest of the way as he surrendered three on seven hits with five strikeouts in five innings before he exited the game with a cramp in his left quad in the sixth inning.
"Getting into that sixth inning my quad was tightening up and getting worse than it was getting better," continued Kazmir. "I settled in later on but in that sixth inning I figured that would be it for the night."
The Dodgers tied the game in the bottom half of the first with an RBI double from Adrian Gonzalez that scored Trayce Thompson from first, followed by a run-scoring single by Howie Kendrick.
Thompson's run was his fourth consecutive game with a run scored, a career-high for the young outfielder.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The flood gates opened from there as the offense erupted, led by rookie shortstop, Corey Seager.
"Sometimes as a young player when you feel like the veterans aren't really clicking yet, you take it upon yourself," Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said of his young star. "He's had some big hits for us."
Seager hit two home runs, his third multi-homer game of the season and second in as many days as he blasted the Braves finishing 4-for-5 with two homers, two runs scored and a career-high four RBI.
"It's like deja vu," Roberts said of Seager's multi-homer performance. "He's special. There's not very many guys who can do that and it all starts with his pitch recognition."
Enrique Hernandez and Yasmani Grandal also homered for the boys in blue as every single Dodger in the starting lineup had a hit. It was the first time the team posted double-digit runs at Dodger stadium this season.
"First two days they were missing inside," Grandal said. "So at 3-1, I was looking inside. If they throw in I'll get him, if not, it's 3-2. He missed inside and I was able to capitalize on it."
One of those Dodgers was Kazmir, who was not exempt to the offensive break out. The left-handed hitting pitcher went 2-for-3 with a run scored, recording his first multi-hit game of his career.
"Two hits. I'll take that," Kazmir joked. "It was awesome. I consider myself a hitter now."
Braves' starter Matt Wisler (2-6) took the loss allowing eight runs on nine hits with five strikeouts in just four innings.
Jeff Francoeur went 2-for-3 with two doubles, Nick Markakis was 3-for-4 with two RBI and Brandon Snyder hit his first home run of the season with a solo shot in the ninth inning for the Braves.
Players of the Game:
Yasmani Grandal: 1-for-4 with a 3-run homer and two runs scored.
Corey Seager: 3-for-5 with two homers, 4 RBI and 2 runs scored.
Enrique Hernandez: 2-for-5 with a home run.
Three Takeaways:
1. Trending Upwards: The Los Angeles Dodgers have won three-in-a-row and seven traight at home. They are now four games over .500 (31-27) for the first time since April 25th (12-8).
#Dodgers (30-27) haven't been 4 games over .500 since start of series vs. Miami on April 25 (12-8). On their way there today — Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) June 5, 2016
2. Walk This Way: Home plate umpire Joe West, nicknamed "Cowboy Joe," was a former country music singer, known as the "Singing Umpire." As a tribute, the Dodgers starting lineup, one through nine, all walked up to a different Joe West song to start the game. "That was Chase's [Utley] idea," Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts said of the music. "I think Joe got a kick out of it."
Blue Cowboy, a country album recorded by Umpire Joe West @Dodgers #Dodgers #Braves #MLB pic.twitter.com/zxTpaINfnq — Sam Friedman (@SamDFriedman) June 5, 2016
3. Soft as Kazmir: Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Scott Kazmir collected his first multi-hit game of his career with two singles on Sunday. Entering the game, Kazmir only had four hits in his career outside of this season. He collected half of his career total in one game. Not too shabby.
Scott Kazmir has his first career multi-hit game ... and season. #Dodgers — Bob Harkins (@Bharks) June 5, 2016
Up Next:
Braves (16-39): Atlanta heads south to San Diego where they will open up a three-game set with the San Diego Padres.
Dodgers (29-27): Los Angeles hosts the Colorado Rockies on Monday looking to make it eight in a row at home as Mike Bolsinger gets the start at 7:10 PM PST.
Please refresh this page for more updates, stats and player reactions…
