Steve Webb
CHAVEZ RAVINE, CA — Things are starting to fall the Dodgers way. On Friday night at Dodger Stadium, the team fell into a 3-0 hole to the Chicago Cubs, but chipped away at the lead until finally winning in extra innings by a score of 4-3. It was a great comeback and the second walk-off win of the homestand.
Anderson and Thompson lock up in duel
For a good long while, it looked like nobody was going to score in this one. Tyler Anderson, making the start for the Dodgers was perfect for the first three innings and only surrendered his first hit on a cheap check swing bleeder that found a hole in the infield. Only problem was that pitching for the Cubs, Keegan Thompson was throwing just as well. The game was scoreless until the top of the 5th, when Nico Hoerner smacked a solo home run to put the Cubs on the scoreboard.
6th inning fireworks
Things got a little weird in the 6th inning, for both teams. First, the Cubs added to their lead when Ian Happ banged a two-run double. Then, hoping for more, the Cubs bunted Happ to third. It was a little odd to have your best home run hitter, Patrick Wisdom, lay down a bunt, but hey Cubs, you do you.
But wasn’t the weird part. What happened next was one of the more intense plays you’ll see on a baseball field these days. Seiya Suzuki hit a comebacker to pitcher Tyler Anderson and Happ got caught in a rundown off third. The ball went to catcher Will Smith and then to third base, and then back to home, this time it was Anderson who caught the ball, and waited to apply the tag to Happ.
Instead of giving himself up, Happ decided to lower his shoulder and barrel into Anderson, Charlie Hustle-style. Anderson absorbed the blow, held onto the ball, and violently shoved Happ to the ground. This of course raised the ire of both benches, and there was quite a bit of jawing back and forth before order was restored.
Error opens the door
Now trailing 3-0, the Dodgers needed another late-inning comeback to win this one. They started the climb back in the bottom of the same frame. Freddie Freeman got a two-out double, but it seemed like he would be left on base when Will Smith hit a fairly routine fly ball to right field. However, Seiya Suzuki mistimed the catch and squeezed his gloved closed a second too early, causing the ball to pop out and fall to the ground. Freeman scored easily on the play and the Dodgers were finally on the board.
Then, in the next inning, Jake Lamb banged a solo home run, and suddenly the score was 3-2, and the comeback started to look a little more doable.
Mookie ties it in the 9th
After going quietly in the 8th, the Dodgers started to make some noise right away in the bottom of the 9th off Cubs closer David Robertson. Justin Turner led off the inning with an opposite field single to get the tying run on base. Zach McKinstry replace Turner on the bases and moved into scoring position when Jake Lamb drew a walk. Cody Bellinger hit a potential double play ball, but beat the throw to first, giving the Dodgers runners on the corners with just one out.
After Bellinger stole second, Gavin Lux drew a four-pitch walk, and the bases were juiced for the top of the order. Mookie Betts came up next, and fouled off four straight pitches before he got one to his liking. Betts hit a towering fly to left that for a hot second looked like it might be a walk-off grand slam. But, the ball died in the air and landed in left fielder Ian Happ’s glove for an out. However, the ball was plenty deep to score McKinstry from third, and we had a tie game on our hands. Trea Turner had a chance to walk it off in regulation, but flew out to center, so it was on to extras.
A winner in the tenth…
The Cubs went 1-2-3 in the tenth, thanks to some great pitching from Evan Phillips and a great stretch by Freddie Freeman at first. With the score still tied, the Dodgers went into their half of the inning with a chance to walk it off. And, to increase their position, they were gifted with the fastest guy in baseball as their runner at second. Cubs manager David Ross didn’t want anything to do with former MVP Freddie Freeman, so he intentionally walked him, setting up a double play.
That brought up Will Smith, who quickly fell into an 0-2 hole to new reliever Rowan Wick. However, the next two chase pitches were nowhere close, and the count evened up. Wick made a pretty good pitch on the inner edge of the strike zone, but Smith was ready for this one. He banged a single into left field, and Turner blazed around third and headed for home. There might have been a play on a slower runner, but Turner scored easily, and the Dodgers had a W in the books.
Kershaw on the mound on Saturday
The Dodgers try to make it six in a row on Saturday. Clayton Kershaw gets the ball against veteran Marcus Stroman. It’s a 7:10 start in this one, and then the Dodgers finish up the homestand on Sunday with a matinee starring Julio Urias. Then it’s off on the road for the final five games before the All Star break.
Cans of Corn…
- Speaking of the All Star game, both Trea and Mookie made the starting lineup. The fans got those two picks right.
- I don’t recall seeing that kind of fire from Tyler Anderson that he showed when he pushed Ian Happ to the dirt. He was pissed.
- It’ll be interesting to see how Doc handles his starters in these games before the ASG.
- Looks like Brusdar Graterol will not need an IL stint for the injury that pulled him out of Thursday’s game. He’s day-to-day, but likely good to go for Sunday.
