The Dodgers overcame a 3-2 deficit to score twice in the bottom of the seventh knocking off the Giants 5-3 on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodger bats continued to produce backing another solid outing from Ross Stripling. Even the bullpen managed to not blow it and the Dodgers took the series from the hated ones.
The Dodgers may have set the record for hitting a home run in seven consecutive games but they used a bunch of two-baggers to smother the Giants. Specifically doubles from Barnes, Taylor, Hernandez and David Freese ignited the offense in the winning effort. It was Freese’s double in the seventh that pulled the Dodgers ahead for good. The Dodgers finish the first home stand 5-2 and have now hit more home runs than any other club in the National League.
It wasn’t easy though. The boys in blue had to fight their way past a three-run San Francisco fourth. Before that the Dodgers had taken a 2-0 lead. Enrique Hernandez led off the game in the first with a solo shot against opposing starter Derek Holland. Walks to Corey Seager, and Freese set up an infield single from Cody Bellinger to plate the second run.
Giants 3 6 0
Dodgers 5 7 0
WP-Alexander-1-0
LP-Moronta-0-1
SV-Jansen-3
HR-Hernandez-3-Duggar-1-Belt-2
Everything was quiet until the fourth frame. Steven Duggar broke the silence for San Francisco by bashing a Stripling cookie deep into the right field pavilions to cut the Dodger lead to 2-1. Strip a bit shaken up on that homer, then gave up a single to Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt blasted a two-run home run giving the Giants a 3-2 lead.
Overall strip allowed three earned runs on six hits over 6.1 while whiffing three. But he only earned a no-decision. It was left handed reliever Scott Alexander who earned the win, thanks to getting Pablo Sandoval to ground out and Duggar to strike out to end the seventh.
Rookie Reyes Moronta entered to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Austin Barnes led off the frame with a double to left. After Alex Verdugo whiffed Hernandez drew a key walk. After Turner’s fly out advanced Barnes to third, Freese poked a double off the wall in left center to score Barnes and Henandez and put the Dodgers back in the lead.
Caleb Ferguson tossed a scoreless top of the eighth. Then Bellinger beat out a routine grounder in the bottom half of the eighth and scored on a Chris Taylor gap double. Bellinger flew around the bases scoring as he belly flopped into home plate. Man that guy can move!
There was no drama tonight. Kenley Jansen came in and pitched a 123 top of the ninth to secure the win and a save. This was quite an opening home stand. The hitters are locked in. The starting rotation is solid and the bullpen got torched. The Dodgers are still plenty good enough to win 5 of 7. We all will take that. The Dodgers have a scheduled off day on Thursday afternoon before flying to Colorado for their first road series of the season.
Very good all around win today. Maybe the key to winning this April is to let the kids pitch more (well, except for Buehler – he’s behind and needs to build up his arm strength).
And Freese did a very smart piece of hitting there. Covering the outside part of the plate and let the 97mph heater do the work for you. That was a very good pitch he drove to the gap, righty on righty too. Just try to put some barrel on it, go with the pitch and don’t strike out.
Absolutely Yueh. What was really impressive was that the ball almost went out. Barnes is looking like the 2017 version only better. So far the catching is in good hands. Kike locked in at second. Turner is missing pitches he hit in spring, but I expect him to turn it around soon. Seager seems to be gaining confidence again. Stripling managed to limit the damage and the offense bailed him out. Ferguson seems to be gaining more confidence himself. It all worked well. Although the weather will be clear in Denver this weekend, meaning no snow, it is going to be really cold at night. In the low 40’s. Luckily Friday is a day game as is Sunday.
Tulsa’s opening day lineup:
Lux
Peters
Ruiz
Santana
Parmalee
Estevez
Thomas
Reks
Walker
Pretty nice.
Anyone heard how Kershaw did in his minor league start today?
Nevermind, he went 4.1 innings, allowed 4 hits, 2 Runs, 1HR, SO 6, and is losing 2-0.
Any word on velocity and movement?
NM – Found it, according to the LA Times “His fastball velocity, according to a radar gun at the stadium, twice touched 90 mph in the first inning and sat in the upper 80s. That sounds about right, I think he’s making one more start, or that’s what Roberts wants, and then he’ll be back.
Spin rate. It’s all about spin rate. 90 is nothing at this level. 90 is a Thor change up. If he’s spinning that thing, at least he’ll get some movement. Personally I don’t think he’s ready.
Anybody know how he’s feeling this morning?
If he’s not ready, I’m sure the team will keep him under wraps.
Every starter is doing well, no need to rush him in.