What a week it has been around the Dodgers organization, and like always DodgersNation.com is doing everything in it’s power to bring you up to speed. The team went 5-1 this week, scoring 28 runs, and allowing 25. The Dodgers hit .234 with five home runs, two coming from Matt Kemp (2, 3) and Andre Ethier (1, 2), and one from A.J. Ellis (1).
The team’s pythagorean theorem for the week shows a projection of 86-76 for the season.
Game Recaps:
The week started off with Dee Gordon’s heroics in a 6-5 victory in 11 innings on Saturday against the Padres. Gordon reached base five times, going 3-for-4 at the plate, and stealing three on the basepaths. The feat took the minds of Dodger fans away from the meltdown of Chris Capuano, who met doom in the fifth inning. Cementing the game was Gordon yet again, who singled in A.J. Ellis to notch the Dodgers third victory of the season.
All good things have their speedbumps in the process. The Dodgers learned that on Sunday when Aaron Harang was touched up, and the Dodger offense could do little about it. Padres starter Clayton Richard held the team to just two hits in 7.0 innings. A grand slam in the ninth inning would put the game out of reach, this despite a two-run home run by Andre Ethier in an effort to fight back. In the end though, it was San Diego prevailing, dropping the Dodgers for the first time this season 8-4.
This would lead into Opening Day at Dodger Stadium where pitching would prevail. Clayton Kershaw was great yet again, but would not factor in a decision as Kevin Correia of the Pirates held the Dodger offense to an equalizing one run. But that was not going to stop Andre Ethier from enjoying his 30th birthday. In the eighth inning it was Ethier taking a Jason Grilli offering deep to right field for his second home run of the season, enough to sink the Pirates 2-1.
An all around effort would ensue on Wednesday in front of a microscopic sample of Dodgers Nation. Chad Billingsley pitched well again, the defense was spectacular, and some timely hitting would all factor in what would be the Dodgers fifth win of the season. Leading the way was Juan Rivera, who went 3-for-4 at the plate. A third inning home run prompted Billingsley to settle down, and he was rewarded with his second victory of the season as the Dodgers prevailed 4-1.
Thursday was just a fantastic feeling as the Dodgers completed their sweep of the Pirates. Another close game was played, and another save recorded by Javy Guerra, who leads the Majors with five saves this season. The Dodger offense started fast, and left the rest to Chris Capuano and the bullpen. The team scored their three runs of support in the first inning, led by James Loney’s first hit of the season (in 16 tries). Capuano struck out seven, and the bullpen allowed just two hits in the final 3.2 innings of the contest as the Dodgers held on for the sixth win of the season, 3-2.
This all led to last night’s game, which in my opinion was easily the game of the week. After getting shelled earlier in the week, Aaron Harang meant business on Friday night, striking out the first nine outs of the game, a Dodgers franchise record. He would finish the game with 13 total strikeouts. The offense received a tremendous boost courtesy of Matt Kemp’s third home run of the season. With closer Guerra resting, Kenley Jansen was given the task of saving the game, but couldn’t, instead allowing a two-run game-tying home run to Chase Headley. But that’s when the magic would begin. In the bottom of the ninth the Dodgers drew four two-out walks to walk-off (literally) with a 9-8 victory over the Padres.
Site Stories:
Ted Lilly took the loss at Class-A Rancho Cucamonga, but seemed ready to make a start today.
An unexpected top three included A.J. Ellis in this week’s hitter rankings.
The pitcher rankings would not disappoint either, watching Josh Lindblom climb the ranks.
The Dodgers ranked eighth in our inaugural Power Rankings.
Hot and Cold went over Matt Kemp’s honor of being named Player of the Week in the National League.
Ever wondered about the Dugout Club? Check out Conway’s experience.
The NL West was run down by Jeff Spiegel, who told reasons why the Dodgers should be optimistic and worried about their rivals.
Is time running out for James Loney? Almost, but not yet says Jordan.
Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Garza checks in with the Albuquerque Isotopes, and enlightens us about future prospects.
Reel Recipes showed fans what a closer is made of.
