Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers topped the Reds, 7-4, behind Brett Anderson and many dingers in a game that should’ve been a lot easier than it ended up being.
The Dodgers offense did what they were supposed to do, scoring seven runs on 10 hits and three walks, including two doubles and three homers. Enrique Hernandez opened the scoring with a bases-loaded single in the top of the second to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. However it was the top of the fourth that made the difference in the game, as the Dodgers homered three times and scored five runs.
Scott Van Slyke started it thanks to a solo homer to center…
…A.J. Ellis then added a two-run homer to center…
…and Yasiel Puig capped it with a two-run homer, also to center.
So that was nice, huh?
Anderson gave the Dodgers a really great outing today, pitching 6.2 innings in 92 pitches and not giving up an earned run. Anderson probably could’ve gone at least eight innings, but a Chase Utley error led to three unearned runs scoring and Don Mattingly had to make a move at that point to stop the bleeding.
Jim Johnson entered and ended the threat with a strikeout. But a rally for the Reds got started in the eighth because Johnson has probably the worst run of luck ever, as a ball chopped directly in front of the plate took a gigantic bounce over Justin Turner‘s head and off his glove for a double. Johnson retired the next batter routinely, but J.P. Howell entered to match with Joey Votto and walked him before being removed for Juan Nicasio, who was tasked to get the two righties. Nicasio then gave up a single on his first pitch to Brandon Phillips, cutting the score to 6-4, but did strike out Todd Frazier for a huge second out. Luis Avilan then played hero again by dominating Jay Bruce same as yesterday to escape the jam.
Adrian Gonzalez got a run back in the top of the ninth, doubling home Puig to increase the lead to 7-4 and making things a tad more comfortable.
But even Kenley Jansen got into a bit of a jam because he allowed contact for whatever reason (BAD KENLEY!). A bit of an unlucky single and then a questionable walk led to the tying run getting to the plate, but Jansen struck out two and ended the game relatively comfortably.
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Perhaps most important is this Enrique broken bat double.
Should do that all the time, IMO.
