Steve Webb
SAN DIEGO, CA — Rookie Miguel Vargas has had a few nice moments already in Dodger Blue: his first big league game with two hits, two RBI, and a steal. His first home run to straightaway center in Dodger Stadium. And let’s not forget the moment he shared with his idol Albert Pujols at first base in the series against the Cards. But, as far as clutch moments go, there has been none that could top what Vargas did on Thursday in the series finale with the Padres. With two outs and the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, Vargas laced a two-strike pitch up the middle for a tie-breaking, two-RBI single. And, with the Dodgers’ pen absolutely posting again, that was all the team needed to secure a 5-2 win on Thursday night at Petco Park.
Soft contact greets hard-throwing Graterol
In this game, the Dodgers used an “opener” strategy and went with flameballer Brusdar Graterol in the first inning. And, to be honest, it could have gone a lot better. Not that there was anything Graterol could have done about it. Leadoff man Jurickson Profar blooped a single into right field. Then, Juan Soto reached on an infield hit. Both runners advanced on an infield grounder, setting up a two-on, two-out situation for first baseman Brandon Drury.
And, in what I can only describe as a “weird” play, Drury somehow sneaked a ground ball through the infield, inexplicably finding a seam between Trea Turner and Chris Taylor. It was ruled a hit, but that’s a play that’s gotta get made. It was another example of less-than-stellar defense from the Dodgers. The “single” scored both baserunners, and the Dodgers were quickly in an 0-2 hole.
Heaney throwing darts as the bulk guy
In a novel approach, lefty Andrew Heaney did not start this one. Rather, he came in in the bottom of the second, as perhaps a dry run for the way the Heandog might get used in the playoffs. And it went pretty darn well if you ask me. There were a couple of hits in the second, but he settled down quickly and got all kinds of swing and miss from the Padre hitters. In just four innings of work, he struck out six, and put nothing but zeroes up on the scoreboard. And, since Heaney wasn’t the starter, his four innings of work were enough to get him this win in this game.
Dodgers start comeback in the 2nd, finish it in the 5th
Again, the Dodgers weren’t exactly ripping the cover off the ball in this one. Heck, they even made Sean Manaea look good. But they found a way to push just enough runs across to come away with a W. It started in the top of the second, when Miguel Vargas hit a sacrifice fly to score to score Will Smith with the Dodgers’ first run of the night.
Then, in the top of the 6th, Vargas strikes again. After Betts, Trea, and Freeman came through with back-to-back-back hits to tie up the game, Max Muncy walked to load up the bases for Vargas with two outs. It was probably the most consequential at-bat of the lanky Cuban’s young career. He dug in against reliever Pierce Johnson, and quickly found himself in a 1-2 hole. But, he hung in there, fouling off a pitch to stay alive and watching another pitch sail wide to even up the count. Then Johnson gave Vargas a pretty good pitch, a curveball on the outside edge.
Vargas hung with the pitch and drilled a solid single into centerfield. Turner and Freeman both scored, and the Dodgers were on top 4-2. It was a solid piece of hitting from young Vargas, and given the struggles of Joey Gallo of late, it was a plate appearance that Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman are probably marking with a highlighter.
The Dodgers tacked on some insurance in the 8th with a Will Smith solo home run to make the final score 5-2 Dodgers.
Pen continues to shine
Other than Graterol’s hard-luck inning in the first, the Dodgers’ pitching staff was darn near perfect in this final game of the road trip. After Heaney exited the game, a parade of five Dodger pitchers took care of the last 12 outs of the ballgame. Craig Kimbrel got some help from a double play ball in the 6th. Caleb Ferguson struggled with command, but got bailed out by a clutch Chris Martin strikeout of Manny Machado in the 7th. In the 8th it was Alex Vesia‘s turn to bail out Martin, and then in the 9th, David Price walked the leadoff man, but put up a zero, getting Profar, Soto, and Machado in order to end the game.
Final tune-ups begin on Friday
The Dodgers finish their 2022 season with a road record of 54-27. In other words, the Dodgers won the same number of games on the road that the Nationals have won all year. Now comes the final preparations for the postseason, and it couldn’t have ended in a better way for the Dodgers, schedule-wise. They play the last six games all at home, all against the same opponent: the last place Colorado Rockies. It’s almost like Spring Training. The goals are simple for this last week: secure home field in the World Series, stay healthy, and get some guys back on track who’ve been scuffling. Whatever the record ends up being is irrelevant, but accomplish those goals and it will be a successful home stand.
The whole thing gets underway on Friday with Clayton Kershaw vs. Chad Kuhl. Dodger fans will recall that it was Kuhl who threw a complete game three-hitter against the Dodgers in the best start of this career back in June. Kersh is already scheduled to pitch the final game of the home stand as well, setting him up for a Game 2 NLDS start.
Let’s do this!
Cans of Corn…
- Not a great series offensively, but the Dodgers started to show signs of life in this one.
- Nice that Vargas’s family was on hand to see his big hit.
- What a bullpen this team has: Padres only got two very cheap runs over the final 19 innings of the series.
- Trayce Thompson was a late scratch in this one due to a “personal matter” according to Dave Roberts. Should be back with the team in LA.
- Looks like Tony Gonsolin will be pitching on Monday.
- Caleb Ferguson is starting to look like a weak link in this great chain of relievers.
- Dodgers finish up the season series with the Padres at 14-5. Dominance.
- Keep an eye on the Brew Crew. They’re within 0.5 games of the final Wild Card spot.
- Dodgers need to go 3-3 in the last home stand to have the best winning percentage in franchise history.
