After nearly four-and-a-half hours of baseball, the Dodgers were looking for any way whatsoever to push across that winning run.
And after using his legs to plate the tying run in the 10th, Matt Kemp let his big stick do the talking in the 12th.
A huge, two-run blast by Kemp off of Jake Diekman ended a long afternoon in Dodger Stadium, as the Dodgers snapped their four-game skip by beating the Phillies, 5-3. It's the final game of the six-game homestand (which they went 2-4) before hitting the road for 10.
The Phillies claimed the first couple of games by scores of 3-2, so Clayton Kershaw was looking to put the team on his back and get a win. Of course, he happened to be opposed by Cliff Lee in a battle of former Cy Young Award winners, so runs would be at a premium.
Each man would only give up one run in eight innings. The Dodgers struck first in the second. Juan Rivera started at first and hit cleanup. He lifted a long fly ball to left that was just out of the reach of John Mayberry to go up 1-0. Actually, all Mayberry had to do was jump, but for some reason he didn't, so the ball just made it over the wall.
The heart of the Phillies' order got the run back in the fourth. Shane Victorino led off with a single. With one out, he easily stole second. Carlos Ruiz singled up the middle, and Kemp's throw to home must have been a hair too late, as Victorino scored to make it 1-1.
The ninth inning featured both teams loading the bases... and having nothing to show for it. In the top of the frame, Kenley Jansen relieved and struck out Ruiz, then watched Hunter Pence ground to short. For whatever reason, there was more two-out drama, as Ryan Howard pinch-hit and singled, and walks were issued to Placido Polanco and Mayberry. Jason Pridie pinch-hit and flew to left for the last out.
The only good thing about Jansen's wildness was that Lee was lifted for Pridie, as Lee was all set to keep going. Antonio Bastardo came in instead and struck out Tony Gwynn before Mark Ellis singled. Kyle Kendrick came on to strikeout Kemp on a bad call.
It was Andre Ethier's turn to pinch-hit, and on a hit-and-run with Ellis, singled into right off of Jeremy Horst for runners on the corners. Jerry Hairston, Jr. was then put on intentionally to pitch to Juan Uribe. Well, Don Mattingly lifted Uribe for James Loney, who would be facing the righty Michael Schwimer. Bet you'll be shocked to know that Loney struck out! Lifting Uribe for Loney is like trading food poisoning for a concussion. It sucks either way.
Javy Guerra pitched the 10th, and boy was he bad. He immediately walked Jimmy Rollins, and after a sacrifice by Victorino, walked Utley intentionally, and Ruiz unintentionally. Pence bounced a double over third for two runs, and the Phillies looked to be in full command at 3-1.
The Dodgers didn't exactly scorch the ball off of Jonathan Papelbon, yet they somehow managed to tie the game anyway. And guess what? They don't feel bad about it all! So there.
It started on a double by Luis Cruz. A.J. Ellis struck out, but Bobby Abreu pinch-hit and blooped an RBI single into left to make it 3-2. In a flashback to yesteryear, Abreu then stole second. Gwynn only had one hit in six trips to the plate, and it came on a little nubber near the mound for runners on the corners. After Mark Ellis struck out, Kemp grounded one to short in which he JUST beat the throw to first for the RBI, tying the game at 3-3.
Josh Lindblom and Jamey Wright combined to pitch the 11th and 12th, respectively, and put up zeroes. On to the bottom of the 12th we went, and Mark Ellis walked with one down. Kemp made everyone go home happy with a no-doubt, two-run shot to center.
There's no question that the Dodgers were thrilled to see Lee lifted in the ninth, as they only collected two hits and one walk off of him. Kershaw was just as good, giving up five hits, one run, no walks, and seven strikeouts over eight. Neither factored into the decision, but both once again showed why they're two of the best in the business.
Papelbon definitely didn't have Lady Luck on his side, as he was burned by a bloop, a nubber, and an infield hit. Like I said beofre, considering how bad the bats have been, the Dodgers will take it. They were due for SOMETHING good to happen after losing four straight, and it did in extra innings.
The Dodgers will now pack their bags and head to the East Coast. They get an off-day on Thursday, which is a very good thing since they ran through practically everyone on the 25-man roster in this one. They then open a three-game set with the Mets on Friday. Aaron Harang will tangle with Johan Santana.
By the way, I will be attending the game on Saturday (I live in New York, keep in mind), so expect some pics up soon!
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