Dodgers play some small ball to win in rain-soaked game in DC

WASHINGTON, DC — Maybe it was because John Smoltz was broadcasting the game. Smoltz, the Hall-of-Famer who has been harping about how the Dodgers have a one-dimensional offense for years, was treated to some good old fashioned small ball from the team tonight. In a game that was split in the middle by an hour and forty-four minute rain delay, the Dodgers were able to plate five runs on just five hits (no homers, John!) as they took the third of this four-game set with the Washington Nationals by a score of 5-3.

In fact, Dodgers were able to win Saturday’s game through timely situational hitting, poor Nats defense, and good baserunning. They only got five hits on the entire night, but were able to take advantage of scoring opportunities when they presented themselves and won their eighth straight victory.

Kershaw’s one mistake costs three runs

In the pre-rain part of the game, it was veteran Clayton Kershaw against journeyman Paolo Espino, but neither pitcher figured in the decision and didn’t return after the long delay. For his part, Kershaw was cruising right along until he got to the bottom of the fourth, and even though he only gave up two hits in the inning, it didn’t end well. After a walk and a doink single to center, Kershaw gave up a two-out, two-strike home run to Jan Gomes.

Dodgers get three runs before the rain

That homer tied up the game, for the Blue Crew had already scratched across three runs in the top of the third. To lead off the inning, the Dodgers got a walk, a seeing-eye single from Justin Turner, and another walk to load up the bases with nobody out. Then, they got back-to-back sacrifice flies from Will Smith and Albert Pujols to put the first two runs on the board. Gavin Lux followed up with the inning’s only hit: a double to center that was absolutely smoked. It was practically the only hard contact by the Dodgers in the entire game, but it was enough to score Turner all the way from second with the Dodgers’ third run of the night.

The Nats were able to record one out in the fifth inning before once again the skies opened up and the tarps rolled out onto the field. When play finally resumed, it was the Nats Ryne Harper vs. Brusdar Graterol of the Dodgers. Both pitchers did their job, putting up scoreless frames, and it was on to the sixth inning.

Dodgers score go-ahead run in sixth

In the top of the frame, the Dodgers benefited from some poor Nats pitching and defense. First, Will Smith got plunked by new reliever Wander Suero. Then, Albert Pujols grounded into a double play that wasn’t. It seemed to be a tailor-made twin-killing but new Nats shortstop Alcides Escobar bobbled the ball for a moment, and when he finally collected the ball, he tried to get Smith at second, but was too late.

There was still a chance to get the slow moving Pujols at first, but that throw was off the mark as well, allowing Smith to advance to third. Smith was able to come home when AJ Pollock hit a slow bouncer down the third base line that he was able to just beat out at first. The go-ahead run had scored and the ball had not even left in the infield. Take that, John Smoltz!

Insurance from CT3

Because of the rain delay, manager Dave Roberts had to use more relievers than he probably wanted to. After Graterol, Roberts called on Joe Kelly, Phil Bickford, and Blake Treinen to get the game into the ninth inning with the Dodgers still clinging to a 4-3 lead. Luckily in the top of the ninth, the Dodgers got an insurance run in another case of get ’em on, get ’em over, get ’em in. Gavin Lux led off the inning with a walk. He then swiped second base and was in scoring position for pinch hitter Chris Taylor. And, as he has done all year, CT3 was clutch. He ripped a solid single to Gerardo Parra in right, and the speedy Lux was able to beat the ball to home. It was now 5-3 Dodgers.

More Kenley drama in the ninth

Of course, we couldn’t just go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth. That would be too easy for closer Kenley Jansen. He just doesn’t roll that way anymore. So, nobody was particularly surprised when the big man gave up a single and a walk to lead off the inning. But now, the tying run was on base and nobody was out. Eek! But Kenley managed to collect himself and pitch his way out of the jam. He got two straight strikeouts from Parra and Escobar, but he wasn’t done yet.

Nats manager sent big slugger Josh Bell to the plate as a pinch hitter. Bell isn’t what he was back when he was an All-Star with the Pirates, but he still has more than enough pop in his bat to go deep and win the game. However, it was Jansen’s turn to be a late-inning hero. He got two quick strikes on Bell, and then induced a weak line drive that went right to shortstop Gavin Lux for the final out.

Morning Game on Sunday

With a series win secure, the Dodgers will try to figure out something to do on Sunday morning in Trevor Bauer‘s absence. It will be a challenge considering all the bullpen arms that were used to win this game, but Dave Roberts said that the team would be calling up Edwin Uceta to do a lot of bulk work in the series finale. Hopefully, he’ll be able to improve on his previous Dodgers outings, which have not been great. It’s a sunrise service on Sunday, with game time at 8:00 am PDT. So grab your bagel and coffee, and enjoy some 4th of July breakfast baseball!