Mannywood 2.0 gets off to successful start
Machado singles twice, walks twice in win
MILWAUKEE — With his easygoing demeanor and smooth swing, Manny Machado made quite a first impression on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mannywood 2.0 is off to a successful start.
Machado singled twice and walked twice in his debut with the Dodgers, who used a tiebreaking
RBI single by Chris Taylor to beat the sliding Milwaukee Brewers 6-4 on Friday.
“It was awesome,” Machado said. “It was amazing to go out there and put on the uniform, come out with a W today on the first day. Just happy to be here with these guys. It’s a great group here, great team.”
Machado was acquired Wednesday in a blockbuster trade with Baltimore. The Brewers also were in the mix for the All-star shortstop, but the Dodgers reeled him in with a package of five prospects.
The July deal — and Machado’s impressive debut — brought back memories of Los Angeles’ 2008 trade for Manny Ramirez, who helped power the Dodgers to the National League Championship Series.
“He’s our new Mannywood, 2.0 I guess,” a smiling Kenley Jansen said after working the ninth for his 28th save.
NL West-leading Los Angeles was held in check by Wade Miley before going ahead to stay in the seventh.
Moments after Yasmani Grandal was cut down at the plate on a nice pickup by catcher Manny Pina, Taylor singled in Chase Utley to put the Dodgers up 2-1. Machado’s second hit then set up Max Muncy’s run-scoring double off Taylor Williams (0-3).
Enrique Hernandez added a threerun homer in the ninth as Los Angeles earned its fifth win in six games. Rich Hill (3-4) struck out nine while pitching six innings of five-hit ball.
Miley tossed six effective innings in his 200th career start, and Jesus Aguilar hit his Nl-best 25th homer in the eighth, but the Brewers dropped their seventh straight.
Christian Yelich hit a two-run triple in the ninth, but Jansen struck out Aguilar for the final out.
Machado grounded a single into right field in his first at-bat. He also walked in the third and fifth and flied out to right in the ninth.
Machado’s walk in the third helped load the bases with one out, and Taylor scampered home on a passed ball for Pina. But Matt Kemp then bounced into an unusual 1-3-4 double play, with Aguilar catching Muncy trying to scramble back to the bag at second.