The Dodgers did it all on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, from hitting to pitching to patience as they waited out a 55 minute rain delay.
The end result was an 11-0 pummeling of the Pirates, as the Dodgers now move within a 1/2 game of them for a Wild Card spot. The Giants bounced back from their own shellacking of the Nationals on Monday to get a win, so the NL West lead remains tied.
There were offensive highlights galore, beginning in the third. Luis Cruz had a big night, starting here with a leadoff single. A.J. Ellis walked, and Chad Billingsley laid down a good sacrifice to get them to scoring position. An RBI groundout from Shane Victorino made it 1-0.
After Billingsley struck out Andrew McCutchen with two on to end the third, the Dodgers started to put it away in the fourth. Matt Kemp legged out an infield single, Andre Ethier reached on Neil Walker's error, and Hanley Ramirez basically had a swinging bunt to load the bases. James Loney grounded out to first (bet you'll be shocked to read that), but Kemp was able to come in and make it 2-0.
The big night of Cruz only continued from there, as he lined a two-run single to put the Dodgers up 4-0.
Two straight singles by Ramirez and Loney started things with one out in the sixth, and once again, that Cruz guy delivered. This time it was a run-scoring single, moving Loney to third in the process. A sac-fly RBI by Ellis later, and it was 6-0.
If things weren't bad enough for the home team already, then they only got worse in the ninth. The Dodgers turned a big lead into a joke as they put five more on the board. Chad Qualls got Ellis to start the inning, then it only went downhill from there. Adam Kennedy hit for Billingsley and singled, and Victorino did the same. After both advanced on a passed ball, Juan Uribe walked to load the bases.
The next three hitters produced runs, starting with another infield single from Kemp for a 7-0 lead. Ethier came back from a foul ball off his foot to stroke a two-run single. Ramirez put the finishing touches on things with a two-run double, and it was 11-0.
Shawn Tolleson pitched the final inning and put the Bucs down in order.
There were plenty of stars to go around in this one, but let's start with Billingsley. It was another strong post-DL start for him, going eight innings of five-hit ball, striking out five. In fact, he's a perfect 5-0 in his last five starts with a 1.56 ERA. And again, he reminded people just how good he COULD be. I've been plenty critical of him in the past, but I'll give the devil his due here - he's been fantastic. Now keep it up!
Four starters had multi-hit games, as Ramirez and Cruz had three hits, and Kemp and Loney had two. Every position player scored a run except Ellis, but he added an RBI. Even Uribe scored, though his 0-for-4 night came hitting in the #2 hole. I'm just guessing... well, more like hoping we've seen the last of that. His average is down to .186. Yuck.
As I stated the other day, I really believe the Dodgers play better on the road right now. They just look more relaxed. And what do you know, since the All-Star break, they're 11-4 away from Chavez Ravine. That's good news when it comes playoff time, assuming they get in. Any team would rather play at home, but when they do have to travel, they still have a great chance of winning. I like that.
There's two games left in Pittsburgh before traveling to the other Wild Card leader, the Braves. It's a good matchup of lefties today, as Clayton Kershaw battles Wandy Rodriguez. The Dodgers need to smell blood at this point, as taking at least three of four would be sweet.
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