The Los Angeles Dodgers have ridden their red-hot offense to a five-game winning streak and 10 wins in their last 11 games. The offense helped them overcome a 5-0 deficit Friday night in Atlanta, and the Dodgers look for more of the same as they battle the Atlanta Braves Saturday night in the second-game of a three-game series at Turner Field.
Through the end of July, the Dodgers were averaging 3.67 runs per game, third worst in the National League. Since then, they have scored 4.83 runs per contest, the fourth best in the NL, and are hitting .269/.337/.402 with 27 home runs in 30 games. They have scored six runs or more in 10 of their last 14 games.
James Loney has been especially hot of late, hitting .451 with seven doubles and four home runs in his last 12 games. Loney delivered a three-run double in the seventh inning Friday night that gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game.
Hoping for some of that offense is rookie Nathan Eovaldi, who is making his final start of the season on Saturday. Eovaldi threw 98 innings in the minor leagues in 2010, and so far in 2011 has thrown 129 combined innings between Double A and the majors. In five starts with the Dodgers, Eovaldi is 1-2 with a 3.46 ERA and 12 walks and 18 strikeouts in 26 innings. After Saturday's start, Eovaldi will move to the bullpen for the remainder of the season to limit his innings.
Mike Minor gets the start for the Braves. He has split time between Atlanta and Gwinnett this season, but with the Braves he hasn't lost since May 31. In his last seven major league starts, all Braves' wins, Minor is 4-0 with a 4.08 ERA with 10 walks and 41 strikeouts in 40 innings.
Saturday night's 4:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL. For more news and information on the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.