Dana Eveland made his return to the majors with eight terrific innings of one-run ball, and the bullpen just managed to hold on and get the win, 6-4. It was the Dodgers' ninth win in their last 10 games.
Off the field? Well, there was that report of a $1.2 billion offer to take the Dodgers off of Frank McCourt's dirty hands.
Yes, it was a good day.
Another great start to the game got the Dodgers going. Dee Gordon made his return from the DL with a single leading off. An out later, Matt Kemp's single put runners on the corners, until Kemp stole his 36th base. Andre Ethier was intentionally walked to pitch to Aaron Miles, who made the Pirates pay with a two-run single. Tony Gwynn's sac-fly RBI made it 3-0.
Eveland's only run surrendered came in the second. Ryan Doumit and Neil Walker each hit singles to start. Josh Harrison grounded into a double play, but Doumit still scored to make it 3-1. Brandon Wood lined out to Kemp in center to end the inning.
Both Eveland and Brad Lincoln didn't give up a run in inning 3-6. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the sixth on walks to Ethier and A.J. Ellis, and Jamey Carroll getting plunked. Unfortunately, with the Dodgers playing game #7 of 24 straight, Don Mattingly chose to let Eveland hit and grab some rest for his bullpen while he had the chance. Eveland flew out for the last out.
The next couple of innings, however, proved to be important insurance runs scored for the Dodgers. In the seventh, runners were on the corners on singles by James Loney and Kemp. Loney then lumbered home on a passed ball, and Kemp even made it to third on some great baserunning, only to be stranded.
In the eighth, the bases became loaded again. With one out, singles were hit by Ellis and Carroll, and Eveland even drew a walk. Gordon lined one down the right field line for a two-run double, and the Dodgers were in full command up 6-1.
It's a good thing the Dodgers got some separation, because Blake Hawksworth tried to give the lead right back in the ninth. Jose Tabata led off with a single. Alex Presley then hit a long two-run homer to right, and it was 6-3.
That was it for Hawksworth, who's fallen apart. In came Kenley Jansen, who's been dominant lately. Still, it wasn't easy, as Andrew McCutchen walked and Doumit singled for runners on the corners. Walker scored one on a sac-fly RBI, making it 6-4. Jansen struck out Harrison and Wood to end the game.
I'm glad the bullpen didn't blow it, because Eveland more than deserved the win. He lasted eight innings for six hits, one run, no walks, and three strikeouts. I mentioned the other day how he had a chance to earn more starts, and I'd say he more than did that. I don't think anyone expected those kind of numbers, even against the sliding Pirates. Hopefully he can follow that up.
This couldn't have been an easy game for the Dodgers, as they flew across the country to play just this one game after beating the Padres Wednesday afternoon. Like Mattingly said, they basically flew, slept (a little), played the game, and are now off to Atlanta. A month ago, I doubt the Dodgers would have won this.
In looking at the numbers, four guys had two hits (Gordon, Loney, Kemp, Ellis), as the offense as a whole collected 11 hits, four walks, a sac-fly, and a beaning. They did leave nine men on, but got big hits when needed from Miles and Gordon with runners on. Once again, it was great to see guys other than Kemp make some noise. That's why they've been winning lately.
After beating up on lowly teams like the Padres and Pirates, the Dodgers are about to get tested by playing the Braves for three. The Braves are running away with the wild card with an 8 1/2 game lead over the Cardinals. Winning a couple this weekend would be awesome. Chad Billingsley goes on Friday against Brandon Beachy, another solid, young arm for Altanta.
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