With the Dodgers in a funk, they needed someone to step up the plate and lead the charge offensively.
They found that man - and it's the same one that was starting on the mound, too.
Randy Wolf had an amazing day. On the mound, he pitched 7 and 2/3 innings, giving up five hits, three runs (all in the eighth), no walks, and 10 strikeouts. Even better with the stick, he went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, an RBI double, and two runs scored. Wow!
This game was never in doubt, as the Dodgers struck in the first inning. With Rafael Furcal getting the day off, Joe Torre penciled in Matt Kemp as his leadoff hitter. It was a bit surprising, but it worked, as Kemp doubled. Orlando Hudson singled to shallow center next. Andre Ethier then crushed a three-run homer to right, and it was 3-0 just like that.
The long ball again came into play in the fourth, when the Dodgers emphatically put this game away. Russell Martin singled with one out. After a foul out by Juan Castro, Wolf hit a two-run shot to go up 5-0. Kemp singled, and O-Dog hit another two-run shot, putting the Dodgers up 7-0.
The last two runs were scored in the eighth. A pair of RBI doubles by Wolf and Ethier got the job done. For people that believe hitting is contagious, here's your proof. The Dodgers could do no wrong with the sticks today.
The win temporarily gives the Dodgers something to be happy about, as they had to be reeling a bit from blowing last night's game. They welcome the top two teams in the NL Central to L.A. this week, the Cardinals and Cubs. So it's another tough week of games ahead.
Monday's game should be fun to watch, as Charlie Haeger gets the start. For those of you that don't know about him, he's a knuckleballer. He'll need to be on because Chris Carpernter starts for the Cards.
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