If you were to quiz people on which current Dodger has the most World Series championships, you might either get some clueless looks, or claim it's a trick question. When you find out the answer is Juan Uribe (two), you might have forgotten he was even on the team thanks to numerous injuries, and a .204 average last year and .211 this year.
Well, Uribe is still starting at third base, and Monday night he finally showed up.
Uribe went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, and the Dodgers won the opener of a three-game set with the Braves, 7-2. The Dodgers are now a flawless 7-0 at home this year as they begin their six-game homestand.
Chris Capuano took the hill for the Dodgers, and he was immediately in some trouble. Michael Bourn walked leading off, Freddy Freeman singled, and Matt Diaz walked to load the bases with two outs. On a big 3-2 pitch, Capuano went off-speed to get Jayson Heyward swinging to end the threat.
Like a good team does, the Dodgers took advantage of the momentum. Dee Gordon singled and stole his ninth base. A flyout to right got Gordon to third, and Matt Kemp took a walk. Andre Ethier found just enough room to bloop an RBI single into center, and it was 1-0.
Old Dodger David Ross smacked a solo shot leading off the second, and the score was tied. The Dodgers grabbed the lead right back, as James Loney started it with a double. Uribe got his first hit wth an RBI single, making it 2-1. An RBI single by A.J. Ellis increased it to 3-1.
After Capuano again stranded a couple of baserunners in the fourth, the Dodgers started to add to their lead. And again, it started on hits by Loney and Uribe, this time a couple of singles. Ellis collected another RBI on a single to make it 4-1. With Livan Hernandez now on the mound (yes, he is still pitching 73 years later), a sac-fly RBI by Gordon pushed it to 5-1.
Josh Lindblom came in to pitch the eighth, but he immediately watched Dan Uggla launch a solo shot to make it 5-2. And just as they've done all game, the Dodgers responded. Kemp and Ethier both singled leading off, and went to third on Adam Kennedy's sacrifice. Loney was walked to load 'em up, and Uribe found enough room in right for a two-run single, closing the scoring at 7-2.
Scott Elbert went through the Braves in order in the non-save situation.
The story of the night was obviously Uribe, who had to feel a whole lot of weight coming off his shoulders with this performance. It's not like he was crushing the ball, but he played small ball like the rest of the team, who's only extra-base hit out of 15 as Loney's double. That's a lot of singles, but it's not too surprising considering Kemp and Ethier are the only true power threats.
Uribe did go 3-for-3 against the Pirates earlier this season, but he had a bigger impact in this game. Only twice last year did he have three hits in a game, which helps explain his pathetic average. You've got to start somewhere, so hopefully he can build on this and be a bigger threat in the bottom part of the order. To his credit, he's played very solid defense all along, so this will only make him more complete.
As for Capuano, he's doing his part in the back end of the rotation with his third straight good start. This was his best one, as he lasted seven innings for six hits, one run, four walks, and five strikeouts. He lives a little dangerously with all those baserunners, but he's also among the league leaders in strikeouts with his buddies Aaron Harang and Clayton Kershaw at 20. He's a veteran hurler, and he's showing how to get big outs when needed.
The Dodgers will look to grab another one on Tuesday night when Harang takes the hill. He'll be opposed by Mike Minor, whose numbers continue to get better in his third season.
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