Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Well now. That was quite the start to the second half of the season now, wasn’t it? The headline for this one has gone from “White Outpitches Rodón” to “Bullpen Blows Big Lead” to “Late-Inning Comeback Saves the Day.” And you know what? They are all true. That’s what makes this game so equally maddening and wonderful. In the end, it was Mookie Betts‘ three-run homer in the bottom of the 8th inning that was the difference in the Dodgers 9-6 win over the San Francisco Giants. Mercy me, what a game!
Dodgers jump out to 5-0 lead
Through the first six innings of this one, it was all Dodgers. Aided by some questionable Giant defense, the Dodgers were all over All-Star starter Carlos Rodon. It began almost immediately, when Freddie Freeman jacked a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Then, in the second, Trayce Thompson doubled home Hanser Alberto to put the Dodgers up 2-0.
In the third, the Dodgers got a very lucky break when right fielder Luis Gonzalez completely lost a Justin Turner flyball that was verrrrry catchable. Gonzalez could only look up helplessly as the ball landed twenty feet behind him for a two-run “double.” Then, when Hanser Alberto drove Turner in on a double of his own (a real one this time), it was 5-0 Dodgers and it seemed like the Dodgers were on their way to a laugher victory over their in-state rivals.
Mitch White throws five innings of no-hit ball
Meanwhile, Mitch White was absolutely shoving in this one. After being rocked in his last start before the All-Star break, White looked great on Thursday, holding the Giants hitless in the first five innings with only four hard-hit balls the entire night. It wasn’t until catcher Austin Wynns hit a single to center leading off the sixth that the Giants even got a hit. But somehow, at only 82 pitches, White’s night was over. Manager Dave Roberts came out of the dugout, and brought in Caleb Ferguson to finish the inning. He did just that, and did a fine job, but that was about the end of the praise we can give the bullpen for this one.
Bickford and Vesia blow huge lead
The less said about the top of the seventh inning the better. Suffice it to say that it was very, very, very bad. Phil Bickford gave up a solo home run to Evan Longoria and a walk and a hit before he was lifted in favor of Alex Vesia. Vesia, pitching with a 5-1 lead, couldn’t hold it. First, he hit Austin Slater with the first pitch he threw to load the bases. Then, after a strikeout to Yermin Mercedes, Vesia tossed a tasty heater over the plate to Darren Ruf. Ruf, he of the notorious fake check swing from last season, continued to punish the Dodgers with his very existence. He blasted the pitch over the centerfield fence and suddenly it was tied. Ugh.
Phillips has rare off night
Maybe it was rust from not pitching for a while, but even the usually reliable Evan Phillips blew in this game. Phillips was charged with keeping the score tied in the 8th inning, but thanks to a Joc Pederson double and a bases-loaded walk, Evan coughed up a run in what was his worst outing of the year. Ugh. Ugh. The Dodgers went into the bottom of the inning chasing a run, and the sell-out crowd was getting very restless indeed.
Lux and Thompson for the tie!
The bottom of the 8th started off none too promising, with a strikeout of pinch-hitter Jake Lamb by new reliever John Brebbia. However, that’s when the Hollywood ending got started. First up was late-inning sub Gavin Lux, who started the game on the bench rather than face the nasty lefty Rodon. Lux got behind 1-2 to Brebbia, but after taking a ball out of the zone, he ripped a double down the left field line. Then, after a Max Muncy groundout sent Lux to third, Trea Thompson dug in with two down.
There was some talk in the ESPN booth of Doc pinch hitting for Thompson with the lefty Zach McKinstry, but that never materialized. Probably because Roberts has been slow to use McKinstry at all lately, much less when the chips are down. Anyway, Trayce Thompson stepped in to face the righty Brebbia. Trayce watched a ball in the dirt bounce in for ball one, and then got a tasty morsel on the very next pitch.
He absolutely crushed a long fly to center that was one of those “is it out or will he catch it?” sort of balls. Centerfielder Austin Slater made a play on the ball, but it banged high off the wall and ricocheted away from the fielders into right. By the time the dust settled, the score was tied, and Thompson was hugging third with an RBI triple.
Betts for the win!
That was the end of the night for Brebbia. Gabe Kapler brought in the lefty Jarlin Garcia to face Cody Bellinger, and in one of the biggest moments of the game, the Giants pen couldn’t get the job done. Garcia came in and just couldn’t find the plate. He threw Belli four straight balls for an easy walk, and suddenly the lineup had turned over.
So Garcia had to get one more out, but he was facing straight down the barrel of the Dodgers best hitters: Betts, Turner, and Freeman. He had to find the strike zone quickly or he was in deep trouble. Mookie fouled off the first one, and watched the second land very high to even the count at 1-1.
Then, the moment of glory. Garcia threw Betts a third straight changeup, which was exactly one too many. He left it in the middle of the plate and Betts put a monster swing on the ball. It was a no-doubter to left, 406 feet from home plate. Three-run dinger. Dodgers up 9-6.
Kimbrel (and Betts) for the save!
Craig Kimbrel came on and looked better than he has in a while. He struck out Darren Ruf on three pitches, and then after a Brandon Belt bunt hit against the shift, he induce a lazy fly ball to center off the bat of Wilmer Flores.
Now with one on and two out, Kimbrel hung down that right arm and stared in against our old buddy Joc Pederson. Kimbrel threw one of his famous knuckle-curves, but Pederson was all over it. He pulled a ball toward the right field corner that had RBI double written all over it.
Only, thing is, Mookie Betts was out there. He raced toward the ball, and left his feet for a diving catch to end the game. Whew!
Anderson set for Game 2 of series
The Dodgers and Giants get right back at it on Friday night in the second game of this 4-game set. The Giants will throw their best righthander, Logan Webb at the Dodgers, so look for Doc to go with a lefty-heavy batting order to start the game. On the Dodgers side of the scorecard, it will be All-Star Tyler Anderson. TA wasn’t used on Tuesday night, so he should be plenty fresh, not having pitched since July 14, when he tossed six scoreless against the Cardinals. The game will be back home on SNLA on the TV side, with a 7:10 first pitch.
Cans of Corn…
- Gavin Lux going the other way on a two-strike count was a very impressive piece of hitting.
- Apparently, my man Gavin got a little too much sun at the beach during the All-Star break. He was sporting a pretty impressive sunburn.
- In addition to Lux’s heroics, we need to give a little love to Hanser Alberto, who was 2-for-2 in this one.
- Not sure what was going on with the bullpen tonight, but they were all pretty awful.
- Good on Trayce Thompson. This was about the fourth or fifth big hit he’s had already.
- Cody made a sweet sliding grab in center in this one, and Trea did the same on a foul ball off the left side of the diamond.
- Blake Treinen was throwing off the mound at Dodger Stadium today.
- Dustin May looking to pitch at OKC on Saturday. They’re looking for three innings out of Code Red as the lanky lefty inches closer to a big-league return.
