When 24-year-old Dodgers rookie right-hander Gavin Stone allowed four runs to the Atlanta Braves in the bottom of the first inning to give the Braves an early 4-0 lead on Monday night at Truist Park near downtown Atlanta, there were probably a good many Dodgers fans who said something to the effect of: “Welp, this one’s over.” (I cleaned that up a bit). But if this Dodgers team has taught us anything through the first quarter of the 2023 season, it’s that you should never give up on them.

…ever.

Sure enough, the team that many are calling the best team in baseball this season pulled the proverbial rabbit out of their collective hats to pull off arguably one of the most exciting (and unlikeliest) wins of the season that ended in an 8-6 Dodgers victory.

Topping the Dodgers hit parade (figuratively and literally) was 35-year-old / 13-year MLB veteran J.D. Martinez, who arguably had his best game to date in a Dodgers uniform as the team’s designated hitter. All the Miami, FL native and 20th-round draft pick in 2009 out of Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL did was go 4-for-4 with two home runs; the first a solo shot in the top of the second inning to make it a 4-1 game, and the second a very long solo blast in the top of the seventh to give the Dodgers a (then) 8-5 lead.

Very popular Dodgers (and former Braves) first baseman Freddie Freeman also homered on Monday night, a crucial game-momentum-changing three-run / 354-foot blast down the right field line in the top of the fifth inning, to give the Dodgers a (then) 6-5 lead.

“Offensively, J.D. had a huge night and so he carried us tonight, but, you know, Freddie came up big,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame. “All the guys, up and down the line-up, took great at-bats.”

And then there’s that James Outman fellow. Although the extremely popular 26-year-old Redwood City, CA native and Dodgers seventh-round draft pick in 2018 out of Cal State Sacramento went 0-for-3 at the plate (with a walk), he made a spectacular diving catch in center field in the bottom of the fifth inning which, in essence, saved the game.

“It was good to see the defensive plays that were made. James made a great play right there, that was a big out right there and saved a run,” Roberts said.

You have been warned, Dodgers fans. Do not say “Welp, this one’s over,” (or any variation there of) on the 2023 Dodgers.

…ever.

Play Ball!

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