Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Brett Anderson was outstanding today, and the disaster of the eighth inning takes nothing away from that. Anderson went 7.2 innings, allowed only seven baserunners, and struck out five. However, two of those baserunners came in the eighth inning on fielded ground balls. One went to Jimmy Rollins, who tried to get a force out at second even though the play was to first, and the other was a routine grounder to Adrian Gonzalez, who ate the ball after Anderson fell down on the mound instead of tossing it to Enrique Hernandez who was alertly covering first behind him. Predictably, those plays led to the two-run rally for the Cardinals that won the game, because of course. Juan Nicasio, now an unlikely late-inning reliever, finished the game with 1.1 scoreless.
Offensively, the Dodgers managed just three hits off Carlos Martinez, though he struggled with his control early and walked four batters. However, he also recorded 11 strikeouts, and the reserve lineup looked over-matched later into his outing. Speaking of that lineup, it certainly was something. Jimmy Rollins batting second. Scott Schebler making his MLB debut. And Alberto Callaspo getting the start. I mean, how tired can Alex Guerrero be? He waited like two years for this chance and now Callaspo is taking away playing time? What?
Anyway, the Dodgers managed to strike first in the bottom of the second for one run even though they should’ve had more. Callaspo led off with a walk, and was followed by back-to-back singles by Schebler (first MLB hit) and Hernandez. Anderson then did his job by only making one out, and a Joc Pederson walk forced a run home. However, Rollins (“Jm”) hit into a double play, ending the threat, the Dodgers offense, and basically the game.
Oh hey, Corey Seager hit a game-tying homer in the eighth inning down in AAA today. Just saying.
