Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers came away with a series split against the Mets behind another dominant performance behind Clayton Kershaw in his 250th career start, a complete game 3-hit shutout. Early offensive fireworks off Bartolo Colon included home runs from Yasmani Grandal and Chase Utley.
The Dodgers wasted no time jumping all over Bartolo Colon in the top of the first inning. Utley, Corey Seager and Justin Turner hit three consecutive singles, and the Dodgers cashed in their first run. Then Grandal unloaded for a three-run home run to right center field, giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.
CRUSHED. pic.twitter.com/upbgahyR4N
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 13, 2016
Apparently the Dodgers are back in the dinger business and have adjusted their launch angles. In the bottom of the second Utley hit a solo home run with two outs also to right center which gave the Dodgers a comfortable 5-0 lead. Colon’s 88-mph fastball must have looked like it was in slow motion compared to the heat Noah Syndergaard was using against them the night before.
Goodbye, ⚾️. pic.twitter.com/C10hawJP9w
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 13, 2016
A five-run lead for Kershaw? It’s like taking candy from a baby.
Colon settled down after the four-run first inning, but the Mets never got any traction off a very sharp Kershaw. The Dodgers’ ace didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning, a single by Asdrubal Cabrera. He had all his pitches working effectively including that deadly curveball, a pitch Vin Scully described as “unfair.”
#VIEWS from the 12-6. https://t.co/qysbsKjuMr
— MLB (@MLB) May 13, 2016
Jake Arrieta, Max Scherzer, Syndergaard are all doing amazing things, but Kershaw’s reign of dominance is in full force this season. His final line on the night: 9IP, 3H, 0R, 1BB, 13K, 109 pitches/73 strikes. He lowered his ERA to 1.74, and he has now struck out 10 or more in five straight games.
Even though the Dodgers’ offense clammed up after the first two innings, Utley continues to produce at the top of the lineup. He collected 3 hits, raising his average to .296.
The Dodgers improve to 18-17 and 7-10 at home. Next up: The Cardinals come to town on Friday to begin a three-game set. Ross Stripling will face Michael Wacha in the series opener at 7:10 p.m. Pacific time.
