The Dodgers finally got off the floor on Sunday afternoon and defeated the Arizona Dbacks 7-2 to snap a franchise record eleven game losing streak versus the Snakes. On Jackie Robinson Day they made Jackie proud by jumping out to a 7-0 lead early and never relinquishing. Clayton Kershaw tossed seven innings of one-run ball with 12 strikeouts to earn his first win of the season. The win saves the Dodgers from a series sweep as they improve to 5-9 on the season.
Today, the Dodgers placed Logan Forsythe on the 10-day DL (right shoulder inflammation) and recalled infielder Breyvic Valera (#33) from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 15, 2018
The Dodger offense looked alive against mound opponent Zack Godley, who was far from Godley. Even with the news that Logan Forsythe was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation the boys still bounced back in a big way. The Dodgers called up minor league infielder and powerhouse Breyvic Valera from Oklahoma City to replace him on the roster. He made his MLB debut later in the game and drew a walk. The following inning he played second base. In today’s match Enrique Hernandez manned the hot corner with Chase Utley at second.
Dodgers 7 8 1
Dbacks 2 4 1
WP-Kershaw-1-2
LP-Godley-2-1
HR-Taylor-3-Goldschmidt-4
The Dodgers scored one run in the second, and three in the third. They added one in the fourth and two more in the fifth. Lack of command was Godley’s undoing after issuing six free passes to the Dodgers. He walked two in the second inning along with a Nick Ahmed error on a Yasiel Puig grounder loaded the bases. Hernandez’s sacrifice fly plated the first run of the game.
Godley walked four in the bottom of the third inning and Puig’s two-run single into center scored two to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. One of the four walks was a Chase Utley bases loaded free pass that forced in a run. There were no walks in the bottom of the fourth to the Dodger hitters but Chris Taylor smashed his third home run of the season, a bomb into the left field pavilions. That made the score 5-0.
In the meantime, Kershaw was cruising along. He struck out Ketel Marte and Paul Goldschmidt in the top of the first inning. Kersh struck out Chris Owings and Daniel Descalso in the second frame. He notched two more punch-outs (Jeff Mathis, Godley) in the third inning, and A.J. Pollack and Descalso again in the fourth. The fifth inning saw the Snakes strike out twice more, and David Peralta and Marte again in the top of the sixth. Up until the seventh inning, vintage Kershaw had allowed just one hit, (A Peralta double in the third). Goldschmidt homered in the top of the seventh to cut the lead to 7-1, but Kershaw finished the frame without allowing anything else. Kershaw’s final pitching line looked like this: 7 IP 2H 1ER 1HR 0 BB 12K.
Kershaw’s performance was masterful and the Dodger bats continued to back him up. In the bottom of the fifth a double from Utley, single from Barnes and another double from Taylor scored two additional runs which put the boys in blue up by seven runs at the time. Taylor was 2 for 5 with three runs driven in and Cody Bellinger had two hits as well. The Dodgers were 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Pedro Baez pitched a scoreless eighth inning notching two strikeouts of his own and Ross Stripling pitched the top of the ninth, and got the job done despite giving everyone a little scare. In the final frame, Peralta doubled and Marte reached on a ground ball single to center. Peralta scored to make the score 7-2. After Stripling pitched around Goldschmidt, Pollack flied to left. There was a pick-off tag play review that went against the Dodgers, but Descalso pops out and Owings grounds into a force to end the game.
Perhaps the real MVPs of the game were my girlfriend and I. While I may be horrible luck from the comforts of my living room, at the Ravine I’m actually a good luck charm. I haven’t seen a loss in person since 2016. I’ve got a good winning streak going. Maybe I should fly to San Diego on Monday? Shout-out to the Helpful Honda people for paying for everyone’s parking. If you don’t think it’s a thing, then let me tell that it is for real.
The Dodgers head south for a three-game series against the Padres in a battle for the NL West basement. Which club will claim the honor of fourth place? Tune in tomorrow to find out. Hyun-jin Ryu takes the mound for the Dodgers in the series opener. The Friars will give the ball to a lefty, Robbie Erlin with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM PST.
This morning I was directed to a distinctly pro FAZ blog that had a post stating quite articulately the same theme I’ve said for some time now, and that is – the Dodgers are doing just fine financially thank you. FAZ has not f’d it up completely but, and this the line that stood out me, “they just do not seem get that difference maker either by chance or choice.”
Yep. Could not have said it better.
Will that change at the deadline this year? I doubt it. But it’s of course possible. Will they, after resetting the cap, sign that missing difference make? Again I doubt it. It’s more likely if they were to spend big it will be to extend the current group of stars, none of whom FAZ brought in.
So what’s next? If it were up to me it’s Verdugo and Buehler.
I still think that our ceiling is not a player but rather a manager.
Hello, can we get a Farmer in the line-up at 3B. Put Kinke back on bench as a utility option, give Farmer a chance to shine (just doesn’t seem to be the Dodgers way anymore).
I don’t wish ill on anyone but if Forshyte had to get hurt, well it came at the right time. Forshyte is an anchor on this batting order (as in lead weight).
Expect Grandmal to come crashing back to earth any day now. Same song, verse 78, we all know that tune.
It is well past the time to move some players down and bring some others up, we all know the names so I won’t repeat now.
I’m glad Roberts saw fit to waste ST and allow the month of April to be the actually ST, NOT!!!
Gee Scott, taking credit for the win? I think Kershaw had a little to do with it. He is the one pitcher on the team I never really worry about. By the way, Valera made his MLB debut last year with St Louis. He was 1-10. I did not read that blog Badger, but that one line is one I totally agree with. In my mind, and most Dodger fans that I know minds, this FO has never gone for it. Would it have cost them some prospects? Yeah, but no one can say for sure just who. All that BS about it was going to take Seager and this guy or that, no body knows. You can ask all day long, but that does not mean you are going to get. Look what they gave up for Darvish. Calhoun who has a nice bat, but is iffy as a defender and 2 lower level guys who are years away. And Calhoun, who was projected to be the Rangers left fielder did not even make the team out of spring. They are pure and simple, small market minds. Even Kasten, who was with the Braves in that stretch where they were winning division title after division title, but no cigar except once in the Series. For all their sabermetric geekiness, they still have not won the big one. At either place they have worked. The Giants won 1 division title when the won their 3 World Series. I think, but am not sure that they got in the playoffs as a wild card team twice. So I am not impressed that FAZ and company have won the division 3 times. The foundation was already here. But the Dumpster Diver Twins chose fringe pick ups and low risk, financially that is, high reward DUDS> . As it stands right now, the Diamondbacks are the class of the division with obviously much better pitching and a offensive juggernaut. And watch out for those guys when Goldschmidt finally gets untracked. The Mets so far are the class of the NL, and don’t look now, but the Angels are the best team in California. I do believe that at some point it will come together and the team will improve. I also like you think that Turner is the heart and soul of this team. He inherited that mantle when Gonzo was traded. If Gonzo was the butter and egg man, Turner is the heart.
Just to clarify my comment on the other thread. My point on Turner is that he is not going to save us if the team keeps thinking it can just “stay afloat”. We are just not that good and need everyone to start playing hard (and well) in order to compete. Turner is great and all, as well as the heart of the team which I agree, but more is needed to contend this year.
Going to Kershaw games at Dodger Stadium is a good way to get a streak going!!