At this point it is very possible the Dodgers can’t lose. The Dodgers may never lose again. The heat was scorching at Dodger Stadium during the series finale against Colorado. The only thing hotter than the brutal summer warmth was the Dodger bats. The Dodgers are so hot right now they were able to score not one, not two, but five runs on wild pitches. On Sunday afternoon the Dodgers overcame a 5-0 deficit and plated eight runs in the final two innings of the game to defeat the Rockies 12-6. The Dodgers have won ten straight games on three consecutive series sweeps. They have a 2.5 game lead in the NL West and now lead the Rockies by 4.5 games.
I’m almost at a loss for words because I had thought I had seen everything. It was a meltdown for the ages from the Rockies never before seen by anyone. At least I’ve never seen anything like it. The Dodgers were down by 5 runs in the third inning and I had accepted that they weren’t going to win. I mean they can’t win every game….right? Brandon McCarthy turned in a stinker allowing five runs on four hits across three innings of work. McCarthy uncorked three wild pitches himself all coming in the second inning. With the score 5-0, the Dodgers immediately rallied back to score four in the bottom half of the third inning to close the gap to 5-4.
Rockies 6 8 0
Dodgers 12 13 2
WP-Baez-2-0
LP-Ottavino-1-2
SV-Kenley-17
HR-Bellinger-23-24-Kike-8
Eight of the Dodger’s 12 hits were for extra bases. That included five doubles and three home runs. Cody Bellinger hit two more blasts, and even Kenley Jansen drove in a run with a double. The game had everything and it’s probably best that I use video highlights to guide you through this incredible battle. Let’s pick up in the second frame as the Rockies scored three runs to take an early lead.
In the top of the second Mark Reynolds walked. Then McCarthy uncorked two wild pitches in a row to send Reynolds to third. Raimel Tapia walked. Another wild pitch scored Reynolds and sent Tapia to second. Ian Desmond stole second as Yasmani Grandal’s errant throw allowed Tapia to score and the Rockies were up 2-0. Tony Wolter’s single scored the third run to put the Rockies up 3-0.
In the third inning DJ LeMahieu singled and Nolan Arenado’s grounder to short went right through Kike Hernandez’s legs. Reynolds singled and Tapia’s ground ball force play scored the fifth run. The Rockies were up 5-0.
Opposing starter Tyler Anderson has struggled all season and today he was fine until the bottom of the fourth when he suddenly lost it. Chris Taylor drew a one-out walk. Then a wild pitch from Anderson advanced Taylor to second. Then Kike homers into the right field pavilions and the Dodgers cut the lead to 5-2. Turner doubles and Cody Bellinger hit the first of his two home runs on the afternoon to cut the score to 5-4. Anderson then had to come out with an injury. He was replaced by Jordan Lyles, but the Dodgers were not able to score again until the bottom of the seventh inning.
For a while the score remained the same as the game plodded along through the middle frames. Ross Stripling allowed a run (Ian Desmond RBI single) in the fifth and the Rockies were up 6-4. The seventh inning is where everything fell apart for the Rockies.
Jake McGee started the inning by striking out Kike. Then Turner singled to left. After Bellinger lined out, Forsythe doubled down the left field line to send Turner to third. The Rockies make a double switch bringing in pitcher Adam Ottavino and shortstop Trevor Story. Barnes walked to load the bases. With Yasmani Grandal at the plate Ottavino is unable to find the strike zone and tosses wild pitch number one. Turner scores and the Dodgers are down by just one with the score 6-5. Ottavino does it again immediately throwing another wild pitch. This one scores two runs as the Dodgers take a 7-6 lead. The Dodgers were not done yet.
In the bottom of the eighth they would score five more. Joc doubled, and Taylor walked. With one out, Ottavino throws his third wild pitch of the game as Joc comes around to score. The Dodgers lead 8-6. Taylor steals third but Kike whiffs. Then another wild pitch allows Turner to score to make the Dodger lead 9-6. Turner would walk then Bellinger crushes his second home run of the game to put the Dodgers ahead 11-6. This is unbelievable. Forsythe would single and the Dodgers reach the pitcher’s spot in the order so Kenley Jansen, (who was brought in with one out in the top half of the eighth inning) is forced to bat. He doubles into the gap in center to score Forsythe and the Dodgers lead 12-6.
The only downside was that Kenley’s walk streak came to an end as he walked his first batter of the season in the top of the ninth inning. The free pass was given to Arenado with one out in the ninth inning. But Kenley strikes out Reynolds and gets Tapia to softly line out to end the game. Dodgers win again!
This game was the definition of insanity. Bellinger went 3 for 5 with four runs driven in. He now has hit 24 home runs which leads the National League. Joc was 3 for 4 and Justin Turner had two hits, two walks and scored three times. Taylor drew three walks and scored twice. He also stole two bases. The Dodgers drew seven walks. All total there were eight wild pitches in the game, four from Ottavino. Kenley Pitched 1.2 striking out two, walking one and picking up his seventeenth save of the season. He also drove in a run with an RBI double. His ERA is now 0.83.
Desmond had three hits in the game for the Rockies and Reynolds drew three walks. Colorado was 5 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The Dodgers were 3 for 9 in such situations. The Dodgers made two errors but also threw out a runner at the plate.
The Dodgers will finish the home stand with two games against the Angels to begin the four game Freeway series. Former Dodger Ricky Nolasco will counter Rich Hill as the Dodgers look to win their eleventh consecutive game for the first time since the sod squad of 1993.
The party continues. It’s difficult, but Cody might reach Piazza by the all star break. Unbelievable!
He would need 11 homers to tie Piazza’s rookie mark. He should be able to break that over the next 90 games. Today I saw something I have never seen before in over 60 years of watching baseball. 5 runs scored on wild pitches. It was totally unreal. They need to win 3 more in a row to tie the LA Dodger record of 13 wins, set twice, once in 1962 and again in 1965. To get the all time Dodger record tied, they need 5 more. That was set in 1924. Cody is the real deal. A-Gone may as well just stay home. But please DR, do not start Forsythe at 1st base again.
Quite a game, wasn’t it? Did anyone notice Kenley was hitting left handed when he hit that double? That’s strange because he’s a right-hander, right? Wrong. Except for throwing a baseball, Kenly is left-handed all the way.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/22/sports/la-sp-0923-dodgers-padres-20130923
But to keep balance in the universe and be fair to all parties, the Dodgers also have a left-handed pitcher who is actually right-handed. Hyun-Jin Ryu. He only pitches with his left arm and does everything else right-handed.
http://articles.latimes.com/2013/feb/20/sports/la-sp-dodgers-ryu-20130220
Koufax hit RH too….Dodgers were concerned about that because it exposed his pitching arm.
Jonah
I knew that Kenley was left handed, but until you brought that up, I didn’t think about that, so good point!
Kenley hit that ball far, he is one strong guy.
I don’t know if you heard Kenley when they interviewed him, but you could tell that he was excited to get that hit.
At first he said he got a hit, and in the next breath he said, he hit a double and hit a run in .
Kenley got that hit off the Rockies closer.
He is going to let all of the players know that!
You do remember that he was formerly a catcher? So he knows which end of the bat to hold…..
Yeah, I remember. His MILB stat sheet shows him as a “S”. Had a career minor league BA of about .230.
Just typed out a response to Jonah, hit “post comment” and it disappeared. It’s always something.
I’ll try again.
Kenley is a switch hitter. At least he usta was.
Teams the Dodgers play seem to forget they are Major League players. Seen some bad baseball this past few weeks.
Verdugo for Lorenzo Cain being floated.
I prefer a stud starter but FAZ doesn’t. They’re content to overpay 4-5 inning guys, so I see them adding a 5th inning reliever. Two times through the lineup and you’re done. Period. But ‘cept Kershaw. He stays in for 100+ pitches until his arm falls off. They’ll sew it back on, rehab him for a few innings then throw him back out there. Whip him hard to the finish line. Doesn’t matter. He’s leaving soon anyway.
Badger I thought of you when I saw McCarthy have problems in the game yesterday.
He really didn’t try to work his way out of that.
I don’t get that!
I have mixed feelings about that. We have been extremely fortunate to have had him perform as well as he has. I’m afraid if we give him an extension or resign him after he opts out, we’re going to end up with a Kazmir type pitcher on a six year contract at $40MM per. I won’t complain if FAZ lets him go, I don’t have the guts to sign him myself… Smart money might be to trade him for a lot of good prospects. We have been lucky so far, it can’t last forever.
Jonah
Before Urias went down I wasn’t so sure we should resign Kershaw to a big contract.
And I thought we should at least see what Kershaw did in the post season, if we make it.
Because he has been a disappointment to me, in the post season.
Because he has never been as dominant in the post season, like he has, in the regular season, except for a few games.
And I don’t think he should get the same type of pricey contract, that he got in his prime years, for his years thirty, and beyond.
But now that Urias is out, I don’t know where we will get a number one pitcher, for the future.
Wood has pitched like a number one, but I worry about his ability to stay healthy.
You would walk away because of what he does in post-season games? That might result in not reaching the post-season thereafter. Post-season games are just like regular season games, except most players try harder. Which can work against them. I’m sure every player tries to play as well as he can. If Kershaw helps get me to the World Series, I damn sure wouldn’t kick him off the team for losing a ‘Series game. Very short-sided point of view.
Kershaw is going nowhere. He’s possibly the greatest lefty.
I think they are still after a starter. If Ryu shows something his contract will be a value.
Archer or Cole is my guess.
Again, no real evidence that the Dodgers will let Kershaw opt and walk, aside from such sentiment being animated by cynicism. Turner took a pay cut to stay. Kenley took a pay cut to stay. If this organization stays as good as it is, would’t Kershaw want to be a part of that instead of a Texas team that is currently going nowhere? (I think Texas would have appreciated the prospects they gave up for Hamels right about now) …Do I know he’ll stay for a fact? No. But I think any decision will be influenced by the success of this team this year and next. A WS would be a good enticement to be part of a dynasty, which has been my contention the whole time.
Pay cuts? Ridiculous. Both were paid more money than they’ve ever made before.
Evidence? How about precedent?
Pay cuts was probably the wrong term, but the sentiment (I think) was that there were higher offers out there for the players.
I have no idea what Badger’s evidence/precedent verbal ju-jitsu implies…
Yes, that’s what I meant. Those two had better offers. They took less to play for the Dodgers. Badger knew what I meant. He’s just being obtuse for the sake of argument.
To him, FAZ set a precedent for their future actions by failing to trade for Hamels or pay Greinke a billion dollars, and instead, deliberately pursue 5 inning guys like Hill. Ergo, Kershaw is gone. That’s his evidence.
If anything is predictable about the front office, it’s that they value maximizing return on investment. Individual decisions vary depending on the circumstances. If Kershaw is still playing at his peak or near it, I think the chances are good he stays and gets paid. It depends on what other options are available to get the same level of performance or WAR contribution.
To argue that the front office somehow pursues five inning pitchers because of some iron clad ideological rule is kind of silly.
Say what you mean patch. You said pay cuts. There were no pay cuts. Allegedly there were better offers.
I actually do believe FAZ is looking for 5-6 inning starters. Look at who they’ve signed since they’ve been here. All of them look very similar and all of them can be had for much less than actual stars make.
That said, they bid in Greinke. And the bid wasn’t a billion. They just got outbid.
I’m surprised neither of you understand what precedent means.
I know what I think precedent means, but I’m not sure what you see it as.
To me the precedent is the team resigns players it values and wants. I think you see something else, maybe?
Precedent means what has happened before.
Maybe you can look at other players who had lucrative contracts with player opt out years and see what they chose to do. patch said there was “no real evidence” that Kershaw would walk. I suggested look at precedent. Why does this need explaining?
Because you are being selective with your set of precedents.
One could just as easily use Hill, Turner, Jansen as precedents for the Dodgers.
I think you are focusing in on Grienke? Because he opted out?
That’s why it needed explaining. If we you equate explaining with defining.
Being selective? Hardly.
I’m not going to do your homework for you. Greinke is the most recent, and glaring precedent, but there are others. If you choose to ignore them that’s your choice. Players are putting opt out clauses in contracts more often now for obvious reasons. Well, to some they are obvious, to others clearly not. GMs are allowing it for their own reasons as well. A good example of that is the contract Giancarlo Stanton signed. He can opt out after 2020, leaving over $200 million on the table. Why don’t you explain to me why that might work for both team and player. If you can’t, SI had a great piece on the subject last year. Another article on the subject can be found in The Economist. Happy reading.
Read Thr Economist.
My conclusion? The precedent is Kershaw resigns.
It’s an easy call to make.
Quite unsure what point you are citing with precedent though.
Also, great stuff on Urias, his shoulder injury and the pitching arm on The Ringer baseball podcast.
Ok, now you’re just messing with me. Not gonna fall for it.
And Kershaw will never resign. He’s not a quitter.
LOL.
We did get five runs on wild pitches, but we gave the Rockies five early runs too.
McCarthy gave three runs on his own with walks and wild pitches.
And Kike’s error, gave the Rockies two runs too.
I don’t know what to think about McCarthy.
I just hope Corey gets well soon, because he was just getting hot when he went out.
And I hope the team got that out of their system, yesterday.
McC had problems with a shoulder and a knee. Maybe that contributed to yesterday’s struggles….maybe.
Tic-toc
He won’t go on the DL. My bet with Scott depends on it.
A better bet – every Dodger starter will spend time on the DL.
In the past I’ve posted slams at Barnes, without giving him a chance to show us what he can do. Well, he’s showing us and I was completely wrong. He showed me enough that I’m willing to trade Grandal and bring up Farmer to split, and I do mean split, the catching duties with Barnes. And I’d sign Derek Norris for OKC, but someone will probably offer him a Major League contract.
Ridiculous!! There’s nothing visible to censor there!
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-dodgers-are-the-new-cubs/
One aspect of the Dodger’s exceptional play that has been overlooked has been the defense, which is currently ranked third. They pitch, both starting and relieving, they hit, and they play good D.
Like everything, the team’s play will ebb and flow, but the scary part is there is still room for improvement. I still think Hill will start to pitch better, and Forsythe will start to pick it up a little.
Logan better start to pick it up soon, because he has had twice the at bats, that Joc has had, since he came back, and Joc is already stepping it up.
Do you think he’s going to be cut? What are you saying here, MJ?
It looks like they’ll let him play his way back into form.
I think she’s saying if Logan doesn’t hit, Logan will spend more time on the bench. The Dodgers still have many second base options. In fact, they have the same number of options at second base they had when they traded for Forsythe. All of them appear to be able to hit as well as Logan can.
Bluto
There is no reason not to let him play his way back, because we are winning.
But I think it is about time for Logan to start hitting.
He has almost had 100 at bats, since he came back, so he should be close.
Right now, he seems to be the weak link on the team right now.
Oh. Totally agree. The sooner he rounds into form the better.
Was he playing first the other day?
Well here come the so so Angels, who have been playing somewhat better of late. No Trout, but they have some hitters. Pitching is not much to talk about. Former Dodger Nolasco on the bump against Blister Hill. Or as he is becoming known, Mr. 5 Innings. Dodgers a little banged up. Seager will miss at least 2 more starts. Puig day to day. Pederson has his average up to .240, which is a great sign.
Bluto
Yes he was playing first.
Giants Madison Bumgarner sent to minors for Re-hab. On this day in Dodger History, nothing happened!
Except that in 1944 the Dodgers, Giants, and Yankees played a three way exhibition game to sell War Bonds. They did that, to the tune of $56,500,000 worth of bonds sold.
Oh, and the Dodgers won, 5 to 1 & 0.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/just-because-june-26-1944—dodgers-vs-yankees-vs-giants/
A three way exhibition game? That’s interesting.
New posts up top guys
Yep, saw that Scott, posted the roster moves made today and the starting lineup for tonight’s game. No Seager again, Kike at SS.