Sunday, June 3, 2012

Harang steps up to end the losing streak

Aaron Harang gave the Dodgers exactly what they needed - and also increased the team's Saturday record to 9-0.

Harang pitched through a hot offense and some crazy weather to give up one run in six innings, Bobby Abreu chipped in with his first homer in blue, and the Dodgers won for the first time in nearly a week, 6-2.  With the Giants also winning, the lead in the NL West remains at four.

The Dodgers got on the board in the first once again, which is something they've done better than any team in baseball.  Of course, it helped that DJ LeMahieu booted Tony Gwynn's grounder leading off the game.  Abreu took a walk with one out, which led to an RBI single from Andre Ethier to make it 1-0.

The Rockies came right back with a run of their own.  Dexter Fowler tripled leading off, which must have given the Dodgers a "here we go again" type of feeling.  Harang did get the next two outs in order to keep Fowler planted on third, but an RBI double from Michael Cuddyer tied the game.

As the winds and rain were howling in Coors Field, the Dodgers slowly started to take control.  Two straight singles by A.J. Ellis and Dee Gordon started the second.  Harang sacrificed them over to scoring position, but Ellis was nailed at home trying to score on Gwynn's grounder.  Elian Herrera came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 3-1.

A little patience led to another run in the fourth.  It all started with two outs, as Gwynn walked, Herrera doubled, and Abreu walked to load the bases.  Ethier worked a walk for an RBI, though may have gotten a little lucky with a very close call that could've been strike 3 along the way.  Adam Kennedy flew out deep to right to end the threat.

The moment of truth came in the fifth.  The Rockies had a golden opportunity to get right back in the game, but blew it.  A single by LeMahieu and walks to Fowler and Marco Scuturo loaded 'em up with one out.  Carlos Gonzalez stepped in, who's perhaps the hottest hitter in baseball right now.  But, he popped up in foul territory for two outs, and slammed his bat in disgust.  Cuddyer bounced a slow one to second, in which Kennedy gloved and tagged out Scuturo for the last out.

The Dodgers were pumped after that, and it showed.  Abreu lifted a solo shot to right center to make it 5-1, and to give him his first homer on the season.  Ethier doubled to right, and Kennedy scored him on an RBI single, making it 6-1.

Javy Guerra started the seventh and gave up an RBI double to Wilin Rosario.  Scott Elbert came in and got Gonzalez to ground into a double play to end the inning.  I'm guessing Gonzalez would like to forget about this game.

Ronald Belisario and Kenley Jansen teamed up to go six up, and six down to finish the game.

Needless to say, this was a good win for the Dodgers.  After losing five straight, they'll take any win they can get.  But, playing well in Colorado is never an easy thing.  I talked about the need to win the weekend games to get back on track, and so far, so good.

Harang reminded me of a wily veteran on Saturday, unfazed by the losing streak.  He lasted six innings for four hits, one run, three walks, and six strikeouts.  His last start in Coors didn't go so hot, so this was a good bounceback for him.  Now in his 11th season, there's not a lot he hasn't seen, so I'm sure a little losing streak wasn't going to shake him.

The 2-3-4 part of the order of Herrera, Abreu, and Ethier came through.  They combined to go 5-for-11 with 2 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 doubles, a homer, and 3 walks.  They've gotten pretty used to playing with Matt Kemp, and they know that's the kind of effort it will take to play well in his absence yet again.  Their averages show it can be done: Herrera - .328, Abreu - .324, Ethier - .327.

The final game of the three-game set will be on Sunday, as young Nathan Eovaldi takes the hill.  He had one blemish in his last start (a two-run homer to Ryan Braun in the first inning), and ultimately took the loss because of it.  Still, he pitched great, and will look to get some run support this time around.

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