Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani swings for a strike during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Seattle Mariners’ Dominic Canzone hits a sacrifice fly to drive in a run during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners’ Randy Arozarena is hit by a pitch during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners’ Randy Arozarena shows his frustration after being hit by a pitch during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners’ Justin Turner hits a single during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners’ Justin Turner runs after hitting a single during the second inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Seattle Mariners’ Randy Arozarena flies out to Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts catches a fly ball hit by the Seattle Mariners’ Randy Arozarena during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Kevin Kiermaier hits a single during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani swings for a strike during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough, left, talks to Shohei Ohtani at first base during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts runs after hitting a two-run double during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani runs past Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Turner, left, on his way to scoring on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani runs to score on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani runs to score on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani scores a run during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani scores on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, celebrates with teammate Freddie Freeman after scoring on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, and Kevin Kiermaier, right, celebrate with Freddie Freeman after scoring on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Mookie Betts gestures at second base after hitting a two-run double during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Betts’ double put the Dodgers ahead to stay in an 8-4 win. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates after scoring on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Kevin Kiermaier celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a two-run double hit by Mookie Betts during the third inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert, left, and catcher Cal Raleigh chat on the mound during the third inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman forces out the Seattle Mariners’ Leo Rivas during the fourth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Max Muncy celebrates after hitting a double during the fourth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith hits a sacrifice fly to drive in a run during the fourth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners center fielder Luke Raley catches a sacrifice fly hit by the Dodgers’ Will Smith during the fourth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani prepares to bat during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a single during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani hits a single during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates after stealing second base during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani advances to third base on a wild pitch during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Trent Thornton throws to the plate during the fifth inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman hits an RBI double during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman slides into second base with an RBI double ahead of a throw to Seattle Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani scores a run during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani celebrates after scoring on a double hit by Freddie Freeman during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández celebrates after hitting a single during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman celebrates after scoring on a single hit by Teoscar Hernández during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers shortstop Tommy Edman, left, talks with Manager Dave Robert during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Will Smith celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a three-run double hit by Max Muncy during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a three-run double hit by Max Muncy during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Gavin Lux celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a three-run double hit by Max Muncy during the fifth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Kevin Kiermaier dives into third base after hitting a triple during the sixth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Kevin Kiermaier, left, slides into third base with a triple ahead of a throw to Seattle Mariners shortstop Dylan Moore, right, during the sixth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Dodgers’ Kevin Kiermaier, center, celebrates after hitting a triple during the sixth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers relief pitcher Anthony Banda throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Anthony Banda throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners relief pitcher JT Chargois throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Dodgers on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Treinen fields a ball hit for a single by the Seattle Mariners’ Dylan Moore during the eighth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani looks at his bat during the eighth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani grounds out during the eighth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Seattle Mariners’ Mitch Haniger trots home past Dodgers catcher Will Smith after hitting a home run during the ninth inning on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia celebrates after their 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia, left, celebrates with catcher Will Smith after their 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers stars Mookie Betts, left, and Shohei Ohtani celebrate after their 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, left, celebrates with Manager Dave Roberts after their 8-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani greets teammates in the dugout before their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
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Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
LOS ANGELES — Hitting in the major leagues is more difficult than it’s ever been.
Just ask the Seattle Mariners.
Last in the majors in batting average and first in strikeouts, the Mariners came to L.A. this week and made the Dodgers feel better about their pitching staff. The Dodgers allowed just seven runs and 19 hits to the Mariners, completing a three-game sweep with an 8-4 victory Wednesday night.
The NL West-leading Dodgers have responded to the challenge from the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks by winning 10 of their past 13 games, including the past four in a row. Both teams are four games back now.
“What we did with those starters this series was a clinic,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of getting the Mariners’ starting pitcher out of the game before the end of the fifth inning in two of the three games. “You can argue that starting staff over there is tops in baseball. Grinding those guys, getting to the ’pen, was one of our more impressive three-game series as far as getting to the starters.”
This was anticipated as the homestand when the Dodgers would start to get healthy – at least in the daily lineup.
Health has been a good thing. Since returning from his hand injury 10 days ago, Betts is batting .300 (12 for 40) with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and five multi-hit games. Muncy is a more recent arrival, but he is 4 for 10 with home runs in each of his first two games back and two doubles Wednesday.
Muncy said it was “a relief” to hit the ground running after being out since mid-May.
“Definitely unexpected for me. But it felt good,” Muncy said. “I’m just trying to keep things simple and I got some good results out there.”
Six of the Dodgers’ 10 hits were doubles or triples and seven of the eight runs scored with two outs in an inning.
They scored twice on a Mookie Betts double in the third inning then again in the fourth when Teoscar Hernandez singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and trotted home on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly, Mariners center fielder Victor Robles crashing into the wall to make the catch.
Shohei Ohtani got the Dodgers’ big inning going by walking with one out in the fifth inning. He promptly stole second base, moving one home run and one stolen base away from the sixth 40-40 season in MLB history.
After a wild pitch, Freddie Freeman doubled Ohtani in and the Dodgers kept going from there, getting a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double by Max Muncy during the five-run inning.
“It’s as deep a lineup as you’re going to find,” Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty said. “One after the other, what they did to a pitching staff is impressive. It was just one after another relentless.”
The Mariners got to Flaherty for their first run of the game in the second inning – kind of by accident.
Flaherty hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch. Arozarena stole second base and went to third on a Justin Turner single, one of just five hits allowed by Flaherty in his 5⅔ innings.
Flaherty has made four starts for the Dodgers since being acquired at the trade deadline. He describes them as “okay for me.” The Dodgers have won three of those four starts and Flaherty has a 3.22 ERA. But he has completed six innings just once now.
“I feel like I came over in a good spot and I’ve kind of hit the weirdest funk I’ve been in all year,” Flaherty aid. “I’m kind of nibbling, not getting deep in games, not quite being as sharp, just missing. Tonight was all of that – just missing, falling behind, getting into bad counts. I still was able to get guys out and make pitches which is good.”
The Mariners needed help to score their second run as well. They scored in the sixth inning thanks to an error by second baseman Gavin Lux and a bases-loaded walk by Anthony Banda. But in the three-game sweep, the Dodgers held the Mariners to a .196 average (19 for 97) with 26 strikeouts, firming up their lowly standing in both categories.
“It’s as deep of a lineup that you’re going to find… It’s fun to watch.” Jack Flaherty on the Dodgers’ offense, his outing and his exchange with Randy Arozarena. pic.twitter.com/XUP35Phgzw
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