The Dodgers had every reason to fold on Sunday. Their offense couldn't get going, they had a run taken away by a horrible call, and their manager got tossed again.
So, as they've done all season, they found a way to win regardless.
After Juan Rivera's sac-fly tied the game in the ninth, Dee Gordon hit a two-out, walk-off single to give the Dodgers a win over the White Sox, 2-1. The Dodgers took two of three from the Sox, and coupled with a loss by the Giants to the Mariners again, have a five game lead in the NL West.
It was mostly a lazy Sunday afternoon, as both Chris Capuano and Jose Quintana mowed through the hitters with ease. The game was scoreless through five, as both teams collected a decent amount of hits (seven), but nothing came of it. The Dodgers did have two on in the first, only to have Rivera ground into a double play.
The White Sox got the game's first run in the sixth. Brent Lillibridge led off with a single into left, which was bobbled by Elian Herrera, allowing him to scamper to second. Two outs later, Dayan Viciedo's RBI single just past the diving Jerry Hairston, Jr. at second made it 1-0.
The bottom of the sixth is when things got crazy. Matt Treanor has made the most of his brief starts this season, and his surprising bunt single started things. Capuano laid down a perfect sacrifice to sent him to third, and Gordon's infield single put runners on the corners with one down.
Herrera had two hits at this point, and he hit a fly ball that was caught in right. Treanor tagged up and appeared to score the tying run. But, not so fast said third base umpire Jerry Meals, as the Sox appealed the play successfully, resulting in a double play. Replays clearly showed it was a missed call, so the Dodgers were jobbed.
To make matters worse, Don Mattingly came out to say his piece, then was tossed walking back to the dugout. If you think you've seen Donny Baseball mad before, then you ain't seen nothing yet. He got his money's worth by refusing to go quietly. And who can blame him? It was clearly a bad call, and at the time could've cost them the game.
Addison Reed came on to try for his ninth save in as many chances, but the Dodgers had other ideas. Bobby Abreu pinch-hit and singled into left leading off. I thought maybe he'd be lifted for a pinch-runner, but since Ivan De Jesus already hit and Tony Gwynn was in the lineup, there was really nobody to turn to. Turns out, it didn't matter.
Gordon had a terrible at-bat by bunting foul for strike three. Herrera, though, singled into right to keep the game going. Rivera hit another fly ball into the outfield, and this time got the runner home, as Abreu hustled to tie the game. Andre Ethier was walked to pitch to Hairston, who flew out to send it into extras.
Ronald Belisario pitched two scoreless innings starting in the ninth, so the Dodgers were given the chance for another walk-off win. Gwynn has been struggling at the plate lately, but he made up for that by hitting a sinking liner into left that was not gloved by a diving Jordan Danks, rolling to the wall for a triple.
Treanor had a chance to be a hero, but grounded out to second for two down. Gordon then swung the bat like a man with a walk-off single into left.
While the offense failed to get going until the very end, it was Capuano who more than led the way. He was fantastic in pitching eight innings for six hits, one run, one walk, and 12 strikeouts. The 12 K's were one short of his career high. It's too bad he didn't get a decision, but at 8-2 with a 2.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 80 K's, he's more than proven he should be in the All-Star Game. He's given the Dodgers everything they could possible hope for, and then some.
The Dodgers have already played in a whopping 31 one-run games, winning 18 of them, tops in the majors. That's a lot of clutch hits and good bullpen work. Pretty amazing considering their best hitter Matt Kemp has only played 36 of the 67 games this year. It's great to see them competing so well without him.
I will say that the Dodgers did look pretty tired most of this game, even extending back into Saturday night when they went hitless over the final five innings. It's a good thing they get a day off for travel before settling in Oakland for three. Aaron Harang will go against the A's ace, Brandon McCarthy.
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