For the opening five innings of Tuesday night's ballgame in Washington, the Dodgers could not have looked much worse against Steven Strasburg.
Then Strasburg was lifted, and the Dodgers took over late.
Despite being completely shut down by the returning Strasburg for half of the game, the Dodgers went to work against the Nationals' bullpen and came back for the win, 7-3. The win gets them back to three games under .500.
Dee Gordon started the game positively by using his blazing speed for a double to center. James Loney, Matt Kemp, and Juan Rivera all couldn't reach, and the Dodgers wouldn't get much else going against Strasburg.
The veteran Ted Lilly opposed the phenom, and he allowed the bases to be loaded on a walk to Jayson Werth, a single by Ryan Zimmerman, and a walk to Jonny Gomes. Danny Espinosa then struck out to end the inning on a nasty breaking ball.
After the Dodgers went down in order in the second, the Nationals did some damage. Chris Marrero led off with a double and scored on Wilson Ramos's double to make it 1-0. Strasburg then laid down the sacrifice, but Lilly threw it away to allow Ramos to score. Following a single by Ian Desmond, Werth's grounder to short got another run in, and it was 3-0.
All the Dodgers could do in the next three innings was a single by Rivera. Strasburg was lifted after five innings and 56 pitches, giving up only two hits, no walks, and striking out four. National fans have waited awhile to see him, and I'd say he more than delivered.
Of course, there were still a few innings left to play, and the Nationals suddenly remembered they were the Nationals. With Doug Slaten now in, Jamey Carroll and Gordon singled to start. James Loney struck out for the first out. Brad Peacock then entered to pitch to Kemp, and Kemp hit one to short that took a strange hop, allowing Carroll to score and make it 3-1.
The Dodgers weren't done there, as Rivera walked to load the bases. Andre Ethier had a big night, and it started here with a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3. Aaron Miles kept the inning going with a single to load the bases, but Rod Barajas grounded into a double play.
Matt Guerrier got through the bottom of the sixth unharmed. With two outs in the seventh, Gordon singled, which also brought about a rain delay. About 30 minutes later, he stole second but was stranded on Loney's strikeout.
In the eighth, the Dodgers took the lead for good. Rivera singled with one out against Henry Rodriguez. Tony Gwynn pinch-ran for him and stole second. Ethier grounded one to short in which Gwynn was nailed trying to get to third. Miles kept the inning going with a single, and Barajas stroked a two-run double to make it 5-3.
A couple of insurance runs were added in the ninth. It all started with a two-out double by Loney. Kemp worked a 3-0 count before given an intentional pass. Gwynn walked, and just like that the bases were again full. Ethier again delivered in a big spot with a two-run double to make it 7-3. Gwynn was thrown out at home trying to score on the hit.
Javy Guerra came on in the non-save situation and was shaky to start. Rick Ankiel found some luck with an infield single, and Desmond walked. Werth struck out, but Ryan Zimmerman walked to load 'em up. Guerra wiggled out of trouble by striking out Michael Morse and getting Corey Brown to fly to left.
This was the ultimate tail of two games, as Strasburg really made them look pretty silly during his five innings. Take him out of the picture, and the Dodgers put 14 men on base in the final four innings. Compare that to two in the first five innings... well, you get the point. I think it's safe to say the Dodgers woke up once that dude was gone.
Four men had multiple hits, led by Gordon's three-hit night. He also stole his 16th base in 19 tries, and he's only played in 36 games. Ethier made his two hits count with four RBIs. It was a good bounce back game after going 0-for-4 against the Braves on Sunday.
Lilly really only had one bad inning in the third, which was made worse by his error. He went five innings for four hits, three runs (two earned), three walks, and two strikeouts. The bullpen of Guerrier, Hong-Chih Kuo, Kenley Jansen, Mike MacDougal, and Guerra went the other four innings without allowing a run, with only two hits and eight strikeouts. A job very well done.
I would preview Wednesday's game, but it's already been postponed due to rain. Instead, both teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday. Dana Eveland will go first, followed by Chad Billingsley.
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