Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — In a policy which I have just invented called the “Pujols Rule,” I officially give myself permission to fawn over a Dodger opponent if he does something that only three other human beings on planet earth have ever done. In a game that meant nothing to the Dodgers other than another win on their march to history, Albert Pujols drilled two no-doubt home runs in the first four innings to get that whole “Countdown to 700” drama over very quickly. It’s good in a way. With that historic chase having been put to bed, the Dodgers can get back to the business of winning ballgames on Saturday. But for this night, it was all about Tío Albert. (the Dodgers got creamed 11-0, so the less we talk about that, the better)
Number 699
Pujols entered the night stuck on 698, not having homered in a week. However, the fates were aligned for this to be his night. Pitching for the Dodgers on Friday was Andrew Heaney. As we know, Pujols at this stage in his career is basically in the business of punishing left-handed pitching. And as we also know, Andrew Heaney’s fairly decent season has been marked by one consistent weak point: his tendency to give up the long ball. These two facts created a perfect storm that led to Bomb #699.
In Heaney’s defense, he did get Pujols on a strikeout in the top of the first. However, in the third, different story. The inning started out with a groundball out, but then Heaney walked Tommy Edman on four pitches, bringing Albert to the plate for a second time in the game.
Heaney started Pujols off with a slider that landed for a strike. After that, he missed inside with a four-seamer to even up the count. But then, Pujols fouled off a down-and-in pitch to fall into a 1-2 hole. Finally, Heaney made huge mistake. He tried to sneak a fastball by one of the best fastball hitters the game has ever seen, and a center-cut fastball at that. Even at 42 years of age, you can’t throw middle-middle cheese to Tío Albert and get away with it. Pujols absolutely crushed the ball to left centerfield, sending it a good ten rows deep in the pavilion for a valuable souvenir indeed. And just like that, it was 2-0 St. Louis.
Number 700
With Heaney using up a lot of bullets in the first three innings, his pitch count was pretty high by the time Pujols’s turn in the batting order came around again. So, manager Dave Roberts had zero intention of letting Heaney face the Machine a third time. Instead, he called on Phil Bickford, who has been looking better of late, but has given up his share of gopher balls on the year as well. This time around, there were two runners left on base by Heaney, so Bickford needed an out to keep the game manageable.
Bickford started Pujols with slider for a strike. Then, another slider caught the top of the zone, but was called a ball. Then, Bickford went to well once again, with a third straight slider, and this one hung up in the top of the strike zone.
KABOOM! Pujols crushed the pitch, sending it flying deep into the warm LA night. This one didn’t go as far as the first, a mere 389 feet, but it was no wall scraper either. The ball landed a half dozen rows deep in the pavilion.
Dodger Stadium erupted, not just in appreciation of the achievement, but in appreciation of a player that was much beloved in his time in Dodger Blue. There was even applause from the third base dugout for this one.
Pujols raised both hands in triumph as he touched first. As the cheers in the yard crescendoed, he rounded the bases, having just joined the most exclusive club in baseball history, the 700 Club you might call it. When he touched home plate, he joined Babe Ruth at 714, Henry Aaron at 755, and Him who Shall not be Named at 762*.
After crossing the plate, he immediately ran to the stands to celebrate with fellow Dominican (and future Hall of Famer) Adrian Beltre. Then hugs all around the St. Louis dugout, and an extended ovation from the Dodger faithful, complete with a curtain call for one of the best to ever pick up a bat.
Pujols homers prelude to a blowout
A lot of stuff happened after the second Pujols homer, but none of it good for the Dodgers. There were three more Cardinal home runs, lots of hits, and another six runs. It was downright ugly. Things got so bad that the recently demoted Craig Kimbrel was the only pitcher that didn’t get scored on. And, let the record show that Hanser Alberto pitching performances are a lot more fun when you’re winning than when you’re on the wrong side of a blowout.
Dodgers try to get back on the beam on Saturday
With the historic moment now in the books, the Dodgers now have to regroup and get back to playing good baseball. The series resumes, sans the fanfare, on Saturday evening, with our own sure-fire Hall of Famer on the mound. Clayton Kershaw gets the ball, and will be trying to continue his strong return to the rotation, which has had four solid outings in September. He’ll face Jordan Montgomery, who’s been great since being acquired from the Yankees at the Trade Deadline. Game time 6:10 pm.
Cans of Corn…
- In addition to Beltre, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield was in attendance as well, and rose with the crowd to cheer Pujols’s accomplishment.
- Believe it or not, Craig Kimbrel pitched a 1-2-3 inning on seven pitches. Seriously.
- Before the game, the Dodgers presented golf bags to both Pujols and Yadier Molina, who are headed for retirement after this season.
- The Dodgers still can’t solve Jose Quintana.
- Mor sloppy defense from the Dodger infield in this one. Clean it up, boys.
- In a night without much in the way of highlights, Gavin Lux got a couple of hits after entering the game as pinch hitter.
- The guy who caught homer #700 decided to keep the ball. Pujols shrugged. He should have at least offered it up, and let Albert decide if he wanted it or not. Not a great look for that fan.
