Dodgers 8, Braves 4: Four In A Row

The Dodgers haven’t won four games in a row all season, and their past seven attempts have all been thwarted. Thus, the only logical conclusion was that they were cursed forever. By some miracle though, the Dodgers managed to beat the Braves today, 8-4, making it four in a row and meaning hell has frozen over. I look forward to everybody getting wings or something tomorrow.

But it wasn’t an easy game, as the Josh Beckett regression that has been coming for a while continued to come. In 4.1 innings, Beckett surrendered four runs on nine hits and four walks while only striking out two batters. In one way, he was lucky to not get burned worse, but he was also unlucky that Hanley Ramirez was playing shortstop. Three of the hits against Beckett were on balls in which plays could’ve been made on by an actual shortstop. Either way, in his last 18 innings spanning four starts, Beckett’s allowed 13 runs. Pitching with a torn labrum in your hip is pretty difficult, I’m guessing.

Fortunately, that’s about the end of the bad news, as Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp powered a Dodgers offense that’s rolling. Puig went hunting for the cycle with two singles, a double, and a triple en route to a 4-for-5 day. Unfortunately, he’s still a bust because he can’t hit homers and struck out swinging in his final at-bat. How will Puig’s inability to do everything cost the Dodgers in the playoffs? My column:

Kemp, well, he apparently doesn’t want to get traded. Kemp went 3-for-4 with a single and a couple of two-run homers, which led to thoughts of 2011.

Multiple dance parties? Yes, please.

After getting the lead, the much maligned bullpen deserves credit for shutting everything down. Jamey Wright, Brandon League, and J.P. Howell combined to pitch 3.1 shutout innings. Granted, Howell uncharacteristically ran into problems in the top of the eighth, putting two runners on and forcing Don Mattingly to go with closer Kenley Jansen, who secured a four-out save.

Jansen, by the way, has now made 13 straight appearances without allowing a run ever since that freak-out after he gave up three against the Padres for the loss.

=====

-Not to be forgotten, Adrian Gonzalez collected three hits, including two doubles.

–Juan Uribe also chipped in with a pair of doubles.

-Puig continues to look impressive in center despite limited chances, but it’s clear he can handle the position. Kemp has looked much better in right to my eyes, but today for the first time he had a play that I thought he should have made: the line drive double that sailed over his head. Would’ve been tough anyway, but he took a bad route.

-Oh yeah, the Giants lost. The lead in the NL West is three games.