Belli, Muncy power LA back to win column

Power and 'pen. It’s been the formula for the best record in baseball, and the Dodgers stuck with it in Saturday’s 7-4 win over the Rangers at cavernous Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Despite the unfriendly dimensions for hitters, Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger homered, while the bullpen allowed one unearned run over five innings to beat Lance Lynn, one of the most sought-after targets of Monday’s Trade Deadline, with the Dodgers among the rumored teams in pursuit.

• Box score

“We just stayed aggressive with him, and it didn’t work out the first few innings, but we stuck with our plan,” said Bellinger, whose two-run homer in the third inning was followed four innings later by Muncy’s three-run blast. Bellinger also walked twice.

Manager Dave Roberts complimented Lynn, whose pitch count ran up to 110 just to get through six innings in his first loss and worst start of the year.

“He’s a tough one, especially versus [right-handed hitters],” said Roberts. “AJ [Pollock] got us on the board early [with an RBI double], which was big, on a two-seamer in. That fastball, the characteristics are tough, the rise ball. Cody took a great swing on one, then we did some manufacturing. Muncy just missed a three-run homer earlier as well. I just thought, collectively, we had a really good game plan and I was impressed with Cody. He controlled the strike zone really well.”

If the Dodgers are interested in adding a veteran innings-eater like Lynn, it’s because starters in 12 of their last 21 games have pitched fewer than five innings, leaving the bullpen with much work to do. Two of the bullpen’s six losses have come in the last five games.

“Clayton [Kershaw] goes six [innings] almost every time, but the rest of us are not pulling our weight,” said starter Ross Stripling, who showed incremental improvement in aggressiveness while being charged with three runs and three walks over four-plus innings that included home runs on back-to-back pitches.

“We want to go deeper. I feel I’ve been efficient, but early in the season I showed I struggled to get through the lineup a third time. Obviously, our bullpen is doing what they’re doing and it’s a strategy that’s worked so far for us and we’ll probably keep going.”

Despite the current lack of rotation experience, Roberts said he feels as confident in his roster as he ever has approaching the Trade Deadline.

“I’ve always really liked our clubs and felt we didn’t have any weaknesses as I feel this year,” Roberts said. “I feel confident in the front office that, if there’s something on the board, we’ll do that. If not, we are completely OK with standing pat. I think we’re in a good place as far as the organization, the way our guys are playing on the field as well.”

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After a bullpen loss on Friday night, relievers Blake Treinen, Adam Kolarek, Caleb Ferguson, Brusdar Graterol and Kenley Jansen combined to close things out. Treinen was credited with the win, Jansen his ninth save. Jansen is now tied with Hall of Famer Goose Gossage for 25th on the all-time saves list at 310.

The bullpen is 14-6 with a 2.06 ERA, best in the National League, and relievers lead Dodgers starters in victories, 14-11.