Wow just wow! Sometimes there are games that just leave you speechless. Tonight was one of those games. After everything was said and done, the Dodgers scored the winning run on an error. Do you believe in miracles?!
Loney is still annoying. Dam Loney. Dam him. Tonight started like it was like the great Loney’s revenge or something. That kind of sounds like a ride at Disneyland doesn’t it? God dammit. I swear Loney ruins everything. But not tonight my friends. Tonight we would see the Dodgers make an incredible four run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to come from behind and beat Fernando Rodney and the rays. It was spectacular and the crowd was lving every minute of it. These Dodgers are a special team, and this is turning out to be the special season we hoped it would be.
Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe (5), shortstop Nick Punto (7), pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (99) and shortstop Dee Gordon (9) celebrate after first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) crossed the plate in the ninth inning of the game for the winning run against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 7-6- Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) crossed the plate in the ninth inning of the game for the winning run against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 7-6.- Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
I had been complaining about this lineup all night. You know me, I’m a complainer. But seriously it was those guys that helped win this game. I wish you guys could have seen my recap I had originally written. The Dodgers looked like toast in this game. But not this year, and not this year’s Dodgers.
The Tampa Bay Rays flew into Dodger Stadium for the first time ever to begin a three game series. I can’t remember the last time the Dodgers played the Rays, but the last series between the two teams was in 2007. However the Rays become the last team to play a series at Dodger Stadium, as every team in the majors now has apparently.
The game featured a touching moment before the first pitch. The Dodgers paid tribute a moment of silence for the young Dodger fan Joshua Jones who just recently lost his battle with cancer. Joshua was the young Dodger fan who Matt Kemp gave his cleats and Jersey too after the Dodgers played a game at San Francisco. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Joshua’s friends and Family.
Of course the entire lineup was filled with bench scrubs, Punto at short, Hairston in left, Schumaker in right. Puig was in center with Crawford, and Ethier resting. I get guys have to be rested and all, but do we have to rest everyone all at once? This lineup resembled a Jim Tracy Sunday lineup.
And not surprisingly the scrubs crapped all over the bed in the beginning. Some serious mitt screwery went on in this game. There was several fly balls misplayed in the first three innings alone. Punto botched an easy grounder, and the Rays being the good team that they are took advantage The regulars may have been tired, but the bench guys looked just as tired.
Now is not the time to be punting away games. But the Dodgers almost did. Of course every time I am up in the press box the Dodgers lose. Seriously guys, it’s all my fault I guess you could say.
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Wil Myers (9) during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.- Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The game was to be filled with fond memories of games past as former Dodger James Loney made his return to Dodger Stadium in a Tampa Bay uniform. Loney the Dodger’s first baseman from 2006-2012 provided us all with a lot of great memories, and some well no so great memories. Seeing him wearing a hat with the letters TB on it seems very strange to me. My mind is instantly flooded with memories of his frustrating mediocrity and third out moments captured on twitter Remembering all of the weak grounders, and pop flies makes me a little nostalgic. Ahhhh good ol’ Lone dog. I would love to see another patented Loney grounder to the right side. The Dodgers paid tribute to Loney with a special tribute on the scoreboard. His grand slam home run against the Cubs in the 2008 NLDS was shown, as Dodger fans respectfully clapped. That was Loney’s best moment as a Dodger. Good times guys, good times!
Poor Jamey Wright, his return to Dodger Stadium was pushed to the back pages, what with the Loney-thon tonight. Loney has been having a solid season with Tampa Bay and I’m glad to see him doing well. Loney is batting .307 this year with ten home runs, 51 RBI, and an .805 .OPS. Loney is batting .273 with25 home runs at Dodger Stadium over his career. He was in the lineup batting seventh for the Rays. Of course Loney came up with three dam hits tonight. Three! Just shoot me now please.
Crawman Can
Carl Crawford is red-hot coming into tonight. He’s hitting .419 (13 for 31) in his last seven games, with four multi-hit games on the road trip alone. He’s scored four and driven three in that span. Tonight Crawford couldn’t because he was not allowed to play. I mean why not play him? He’s going to break anyways so may as well ride out his hot streak until his inevitable return trip to the disabled list. Just a thought.
The pitching match-up pitted former Cy Young winner David Price against left hander Chris Capuano. Cappy had only faced the rays once before in his career, and lost. In that game he had pitched seven frames, and allowed four runs on 12 hits. Tonight it was the mismatch that we all thought it would be. Price went seven strong allowing just one run on seven hits, while whiffing four. Capuano allowed five runs on ten hits through 4.1 innings. Not good.
So scrub defense on the field, a lousy Capuano start, and if you think the scrubs would actually hit and play defense in the same game, well uhhh yeah that’s uhhhh not gonna happen.
Umpire Angel Hernandez (55) makes the call as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Jose Molina (28) tags Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. (6) out at the plate in the fourth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium.-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Rays scored three in the second and three more in the fifth. They knocked Capuano out of the game with three runs in the fifth. A run scoring single form Ben Zobrist, and a two-run single from Escobar made it a 6-0 game at that point.
Sure the Dodgers did rally for a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth, when Puig’s double into the right field corner scored M.Ellis, and Uribe’s line drive single scored Puig. but it was too little too late. Or was it??? The Dodgers were tired, and well it showed.
Until that amazing bottom of the ninth inning that featured four hits and a costly error from Tampa Bay that is. The Dodgers were down 6-3 entering the ninth inning, and they had to chip away at their deficit before their incredible rally in the ninth. they scored one in the seventh, and two important runs in the eighth before the amazing ninth frame. I can’t say anymore other than I love this team!
Screw off Loney- Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sean Rodriguez starts the top of the first with a sharp grounder to first, backhanded by Uribe for the first out. Nice play from Juan. Former Dback and annoyance Ryan Robert whiffs for the second out. Evan Longoria grounds out to Uribe, and Capuano has pitched a very nice quick 123 first inning! I love those!
David Price begins the bottom of the first by getting Mark Ellis to ground to short. But then Nick Punto the “little Pony” as Steve Lyons calls him slaps a double just inside the right field line for the Dodger’s first hit of the night. Gonzo’s bat is broken on an 0-2 grounder back to the box. Punto advances to second on the play. That brings up Yasiel Puig. The young phenom grounds out up the middle, and Punto is stranded at second. No score after one frame.
In the top of the second, rookie WIl Meyers who has a bat flip of his own ala Puig, socks a routine fly ball to left that falls in between Hairston and Puig. There was some kind of miscommunication between the outfielders. Then Punto makes an error on another routine play to put runners at first and second with none out. The consecutive singles from Yunel Escobar and Loney plate three unanswered runs in this frame. The Dodger Stadium crowd groans in annoyance. Jose Molina and Price both ground out but the damage is done. The score is 3-0 TB.
The Dodgers predictably go down 123 in the bottom of the second. Price setting the side down in order. More crappy defense by the Dodgers in the top of the third. Ryan Roberts doubles to center on a fly ball that Puig really should have had. After Longoria flies out to right, Myers singles Roberts to third. Ben Zobrist’s fielder’s choice grounder is handled by Uribe who throws to home and catches Roberts in a rundown. After Roberts is tagged out, Myers is caught off of second base and nearly called out, but the umpire doesn’t give the Dodgers the call, but it was close. Cappy whiffs Escoabr to keep the score 3-0.
Price allows a single to Mark Ellis but nothing more. Loney collects his second hit of the night in the top of the fourth, but the Rays don’t score. A Jose Molina double play, and a Price whiff make sure of that.
Just shut up Maddon, Seriously, shuty-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers tried to put together a rally in the bottom of the fourth, but lousy base running and Tim Wallach flailing his arms around like a helicopter prevents any kind of scoring. Puig gets a one-out single to center. Hairston erases him on the base paths with a force out, which becomes a problem. Juan Uribe’s double into the right field corner would have easily scored Puig, but Hairston was running and Wallach waives him in. Zobrist’s throw beats him to the plate by ten feet. You know what they say, never be make the third out of an inning at third base or home plate, WALLACH!
Mercifully the Rays plate three runs in the top of the fifth to put the game away. Rodriguez singles, Longoria doubles him to third. The Dodgers intentionally walk Myers, which I can’t argue with. But the bases are loaded. Singles from Zobrist and Escobar score three, with Escobar’s a two-run single. That makes it 6-0 Rays. J.P. Howell is called in to replace poor Capuano. Escaobar steals second base, but Loney flies out and Howell whiffs Price after an intentional walk to Molina.
The Dodgers do nothing in the bottom of the fifth, and Brandon League pitches a 123 top of the sixth. Yes Brandon League you are not reading incorrectly.
The Dodgers finally scored a run in the seventh but it was pretty meaningless. Hairston walks. Uribe’s grounder would have been a double play had not Longoria thrown the ball into right field. The Dodgers had their first break of the game, but in grand fashion they would piss it away pretty quick. Fedex grounds into a double play of course of course, but Hairston moves over to third. Schumaker’s double brings him home to make it a 6-1 game.
Simply Incredible!-Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Hanley Ramirez makes a pinch-hitting appearance here, but whiffs on a swinging strike. Perhaps Haney could be back soon? And that ends that inning. Carlos Marmol pitched the top of the eight, and I nearly gouged my eyes out. So we’ll skip this frame. The Dodgers didn’t allow anything, but barely.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Dodgers rallied for two runs off Jake Mcgee and rapist guy Josh Lueke. M.Ellis walks, and after Punto whiffs, and Gonzo grounds out, Puig doubles into the corner in right field. The ball bounces into the stands for a ground-rule double. After Joel Peralta replaces Lueke, Uribe’s line drive single to left scores Puig, to make it a 6-3 game.
Skip to the bottom of the ninth, and I don’t mean Schumaker. Fernando Rodney comes in to close it out for the Rays. Schumaker singles to open the frame. Dee Gordon pinch-hits and whiffs for the second out. Hold onto your hats guys. Boom! M.Ellis triples in Schumaker, as Zobrist’s ill-advised dive allowed the ball to roll all the way to the wall. Boom! Nick Punto doubles in M.Ellis. Boom! Gonzo a line-drive double to the gap to score M.Ellis. After Puig is intentionally walked, Hairston smacks a grounder up the box, and Rodney throws the ball into center field, allowing the winning run to score! The Dodges win 7-6!
I am beat and so are you. Join us tomorrow as Roberto Hernandez counters Zack Greinke at 1:05 PM on Fox. I love this team! Go Blue!