Wednesday’s exciting four-run Dodger come from behind win was certainly enthralling. The Dodgers scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth against New York closer Edwin Diaz to overcome an 8-5 deficit. Tonight’s game wasn’t quite at the same breakneck pace of last night’s slugfest but it was just as interesting. Instead of a back and forth thrilling high scoring affair, we were treated with an old fashioned low scoring pitching duel. The Dodgers and Hyun-jin Ryu took this one as well, shutting out the Mets 2-0. The win gives the Dodgers the series edge three games to one.
Once again Hyun-jin Ryu turned in another dominating performance. On this night he tossed 7.2 innings of shutout baseball allowing just four hits, one walk and striking out seven. Ryu made 106 pitches and was removed from the game with two outs in the top of the eighth and the Dodgers clinging to a 1-0 lead.
The Mets never really threatened Ryu. They had two runners reach in the top of the second when Ryu walked Todd Frazier and gave up a Carlos Gomez single. But he recovered to get Hechavarria to pop out and struck out Tomas Nido. Other than a Nido single in the fifth frame, the Mets didn’t get anyone on base until the top of the seventh. Pete Alonso doubled to left to lead off the frame and with the Dodgers up by a measly 1-0 score it appeared that they were in trouble. But Frazier grounded back to the box (with Ryu looking the runner back) Gomez flew out to Verdugo and Hechavarria grounded out.
Mets 0 4 0
Dodgers 2 9 0
WP-Ryu-8-1
LP-Vargas-1-3
SV-Jansen-16
The next inning Ryu gave up a one-out single to Wilson Ramos and then induced a force out before being lifted from the game to a nice and well deserved standing ovation. Kenley Jansen entered to record a four-out save and got started on the right foot by striking out Dominic Smith to get out of the inning. Ryu is now 8-1 with a 1.48 ERA.
Meanwhile the Dodger bats didn’t do much tonight off of opposing starter Jason Vargas. To be fair the Dodgers were without Justin Turner (slight hamstring strain) and Corey Seager (scheduled day off), as both bats were not in the starting lineup. Regardless the bats did just enough to get the Dodgers a couple of runs. This was perhaps Vargas’s best start of the season as he tossed seven innings of one-run ball and struck out six.
The Dodgers scored their first run within minutes of the game beginning in the bottom of the first. Chris Taylor tripled to left with the ball rolling past the diving J.D. Davis. Max Muncy immediately doubled home Taylor to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers scored a much needed insurance run in the bottom of the eighth against the New York bullpen. David Freese doubled into the right field corner thanks to Michael Conforto crashing into the low wall causing the ball to pop out of his glove. An opposite field RBI single from Enrique Hernandez plated Freese to put the Dodgers up 2-0. There wasn’t much drama after that. The ninth inning was relatively clean. Conforto grounded out for the first out. Alonso was hit by a pitch in the hand. The Dodgers challenged the play but the call on the field was upheld. Kenley then struck out Frazier and got Gomez to line out to end the game. Dodgers win it! The Phillies come into town for the weekend tomorrow. The Dodgers see Jake Arrieta while they counter with Kenta Maeda. The Dodgers are 22-7 at home and now have an 8.5 game lead in the National League West.
Another masterful quality start by the Dodger “ACE”, Hyun Jin Ryu. 7 2/3 shutout innings, 7 K’s, allowing only 1 walk, and ERA down to 1.48! Could be the NL starter in the All-Star game. That would be awesome.
The offense sputtered, with JT and Seager held out of the starting lineup, and a HOT Pederson “benched” again, in favor of the dreaded “Lefty Lineup”… a pitiful 2-9 RISP, 8 LOB. 9 hits, and 3 free passes, but untimely hitting failed to cash in runs. The Dodgers had Met starter Jason Vargas on the ropes in the first inning, but they allowed him to bob and weave out of trouble, and escape, sacrificing just one run. After that, Vargas shut down the bumbling Dodger bats for 6 innings.
An important insurance run in the eighth, complements of Kiké Hernandez, helped Jansen cruise and seal the game with a 4-out save. What a nasty slider he had last night.
Go Blue! NL East leaders, the Phils, next on the menu.
BlueFan,
Embarassing win?
Did I say that, Bluto?
Don’t put words in my blogs….
But, it not for Hyun Jin Ryu, maybe it was!?
Ryu is the man, for sure.
Will this management group ever realize that these L-word lineup stuff just doesn’t produce?
True Blue, the Dodgers have basically deemed Pederson a one dimensional hitter who cannot hit lefties. They have to give Pederson a chance. Their best OF should be an every day lineup of Pederson LF, Verdugo CF, Bellinger RF…. Period.
Pederson looks like a hungry, caged beast in the dugout, hoping to get into the game. He does not want to sit. When you are hot, you can hit anything. He will never start against
Lefties, if the Dodgers do not give him the opportunity to prove that he can hit them just as well as Righties.
His numbers against Lefties will never improve, if the Dodgers refuse to play him.
Bluefan4Life, it can be called pigeon holing Joc in most cases. Dodgers have practiced this art for a while now.
Blue
Agree with you on Pederson. He should be able to start against some leftys. He is hitting .190 against leftys but there are many that are just above .200 that play. Including Martin, Freeze and others. I say give the kid a chance. I have been down on Joc for years but I see a huge improvement in him this year. If he didn’t have Dummy benching him when he is hot he might learn just how to hit leftys.
Package I for one, could not agree with ya more. I don’t believe any of us would be too surprised if at some point Joc asked to be dealt to a team who WILL AT LEAST give him a half way descent chance against LHP.
You have to consider that most of Joc’s limited at-bats against “Lefties” are by default. Not a very fair sampling.
Left field stats by WAR
http://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/batting/_/position/lf/sort/WARBR/order/true
With fewer at bats Pederson is 3rd. What the Dodgers are doing with him appears to be working.
True Blue, the answer to your question is a resounding NO…If ya look up the definition of INSANITY in a dictionary, ya might see some reference to the Dodger platoon L-word lineups
First off, the pitch that supposedly hit Alonso missed his hand and hit his bat. Never touched him. That call should have been reversed. He did not even shake his hand. And he knew it, he stood over by the base with his bat in his hand. It was all moot after that anyway. Ryu was brilliant again. Only real gripe with this team is the Gas Can Brigade that is the bullpen.
…. and the Listless Lefty Lineup!
One that if used in the PS and or WS will fail miserably….again.
Yeah. I’m optimistic the pen will improve, but even if it does they probably need a mid-season move to bolster further.
This is a really fun team to watch.
Even when Hill is not pitching
LeapBlog
Nice win to open the Phillies series. Arrieta nailed for 3 dingers by Joc, Max and Corey. Maeda pitched well and for once the BP did not totally implode. Floro gave up a run, but Jansen got the 4 out save. Kike homered also. Nice blast into the pavilion. Joc’s shot travelled 442 feet. Longest homer of the year for a Dodger. Going to the game tonight for old timers day and the induction of Garvey into the legends of Dodger baseball. I get to see Kershaw pitch. Dodgers held Harper down. But that is nothing new at Dodger Stadium. His stats there are pretty abysmal.
Michael,
Remember when many Dodger fans were willing to trade Bellinger for Realmuto? What a snafu that would have been.
Also glad the Dodgers did not sign Harper. He would have had a lock on one of the outfield positions, similar to what Pollock had before he was injured. Dodgers are doing fine without Pollock or Harper or Realmuto, thank you very much.
Hope the game is a fun one, Michael. Kershaw is usually a fun watch.
I also hope you have good seats.
Maeda delivers another quality start. Just two mistakes…. a dinger to McCutchen and RBI single to Arrieta. Surrendering too many HR’s and allowing base hits to opposing pitchers are two of the Dodgers pitcher’s Achilles Heals.
The explosive Dodger offense took command of the game. Dodger lefties led the charge…. “Who needs a stacked right-handed lineup?” Pederson’s 17th 110MPH jack almost hit the roof of the right field pavilion! Seager (his 7th) seems to have regained much of his power, Muncy’s 12th a no doubter. Right handed Kiké proudly represented the “righties” with his 9th bomb.
Go Blue!
BlueFan,
I had a smiley face in my post, not sure why it didn’t make it.
No Prob…. ?
Everything is cool. I figured you were joking…. you were joking, right??
What’s the over and under on the number of dingers that kershaw gives up tonight? Im thinking 3 dingers
I campaigned against them signing Harper from the get go. I do not think his numbers at Dodger Stadium are a fluke. Realmuto for Bellinger would have been a total disaster, but that never was going to happen anyway. They might have parted with Verdugo, but Belli was not going anywhere. HR’s are the bane of the entire staff at this point, especially Kershaw. Almost all of the runs off of him have come on dingers. Buehler has not been immune either. James Loney and Scotty Van Smack will be part of the festivities at the game. J-Hair and Nomah are the team captains. Will be fun to see the old guys in action…afterwards, break out the Ben-Gay!
Phillies close to completing a trade for Jay Bruce per MLBtraderumors.com.
20 games over .500
Starters have the most innings pitched in MLB. 3rd best FIP.
The Dominican Summer League officially began today and the good guys have 2 teams and some noteable names…
The DSL Dodgers Bautista roster includes 2018 signees Diego Cartaya, Jerming Rosario, Joel Ibarra, and Jose Ramos.
The DSL Dodgers Shoemaker roster includes Carlos Duran, Alex De Jesus, Osvanni Gutierrez, and Jorge Gonzalez.
Looks like the Phillies are throwing an “Opener” tonight. A lefty, with 22 appearances this year, but this will be his first start, I think.
Phils probably trying to expose the “Listless Lefty Starting Line-up”, then will probably yank him in 2nd inning or soon thereafter. We will see if DR takes the bait.
True Blue, I will take “Under”. I predict Kershaw will give up 2 dingers… two 2-run shots.
Blue
What happened to the 2 dingers? I think you missed it for sure. Kershaw is quietly getting better each outing but again the bullpen sucks. Urias is given more credit than he deserves.
You are right, Package. Kershaw pitched a heck of a game. 1 earned run, due to a “Passed Ball” (should not have been a wild pitch. Urias cost Kershaw a well deserved win.
Phillies ran out of lefties so Dodgers might have a chance to walk off. Finally got Joc in the game, but maybe too late.
Walk off, Package! “Let the Kids Play”
Urias steals the win from Kershaw.
Kershaw pitched well.
“Freeze” quietly having a really good platoon season, just like Pederson.
Blue
You got that right for sure! Urias sure stole that one. His one idea was throw one right down the middle to see if Harper could hit it. Mission accomplished.
Might have to carry 3 catchers. Kelly might have to go before his bobblehead night. Russell can fill in, in the bullpen…. he’s got a better ERA than Kelly. Russell and Barnes can also play other positions. Let the Kid, Will Smith, Play!