Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller Make Strong Debuts for Dodgers
After losing three of four games in St. Louis and with injuries to Dustin May (forearm) and Julio Urías (hamstring), the Dodgers called up top pitching prospects Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller.
By Earl Heath |Contributing Sports Writer
After losing three of four games in St. Louis and with injuries to Dustin May (forearm) and Julio Urías (hamstring), the Dodgers called up top pitching prospects Gavin Stone and Bobby Miller. Both rookies stepped up and got off to a good start, helping the Dodgers win two of three games against the Atlanta Braves.
Bobby Miller (Photo: Adam Glanzman/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Stone started the opener on Monday night and went four innings, allowing five hits and five earned runs. Evan Phillips came on in relief and pitched a scoreless fifth inning, and Caleb Ferguson followed with a scoreless sixth. Yency Almonte retired the top of the Atlanta lineup in order in the seventh, and Phil Bickford was replaced by Brusdar Graterol, who gave up an RBI double in the eighth. Graterol then returned in the ninth to get his third save of the year.
“We exhausted a lot tonight,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “But it feels good to win this one.”
Stone was helped by a three-run homer from Freddie Freeman, who also scored a pair of runs. J.D. Martinez went 4 for 5 with a pair of solo home runs.
The Dodgers trailed 4-0 after one inning, but they rallied to win 8-6.
“It doesn’t matter how far the game may feel out of reach, our offense is dangerous,” said Martinez.
The following night, it was Miller’s turn. The 24-year-old only had eight outings at Triple-A Oklahoma City before being called up to the big leagues.
Will Smith singled home Mookie Betts in the first inning to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Miller allowed one run when Austin Riley doubled to left-center and Sean Murphy scored on an error by Miguel Rojas. That was it for scoring on the night.
With his family looking on, Miller went five innings, giving up just four hits, striking out five and walking one.
“As confident as I looked out there,” said Miller. “I was very nervous under that poker face. I just had to focus on my breathing and tell myself it’s the same game.”
Miller threw a season-high 76 pitches and reached 100 mph several times, even though he only threw 12 fastballs. According to Roberts, Miller will get another one or two starts.
“For him to arrive and pitch like he did on a stage like this against a team like this, the way he showed was really encouraging for all of us,” said Roberts. “I think this is just a start.”
The Dodgers’ two young pitchers gave the team a much-needed boost after a tough series in St. Louis. With May and Urías still out, Stone and Miller could be called upon to play a big role in the Dodgers’ rotation for the rest of the season.
