After watching the Rockies go off for their second huge inning late in a game this series, the Dodgers came dangerously close to getting swept by a last place team.
Thankfully that 10-1 lead they built up was enough to hang on.
An early two-run homer by Hanley Ramirez and a grand slam later by A.J. Ellis gave the Dodgers the big lead they needed, as they clung to a victory in Colorado, 10-8. The Giants beat the Astros (like I even needed to say that), so the Dodgers still find themselves down by 3 1/2 games in the NL West.
For 7 1/2 innings, this game was all LA, as they did all of their damage in the third and eighth. Starting in the third, Juan Rivera, who was in for a healing Matt Kemp after going splat against the wall on Tuesday, singled leading off. Ellis followed with his own, and Joe Blanton sacrificed them into scoring position.
The scoring then started on an error by Jordan Pecheco at third, allowing Rivera to score and make it 1-0. Shane Victorino's RBI single came next, and Mark Ellis and Victorino both advanced a base on a wild pitch. Adrian Gonzalez found enough room in right for a two-run single, and Ramirez hit his two-run shot to make it 6-0 after three.
Blanton was having by far his best game in Dodger blue through six innings, not allowing a run. The Rockies finally cracked the scoreboard in the seventh. With one out, Charlie Blackmon singled and Dexter Fowler pinch-hit and drew a walk. An RBI single by Tyler Colvin made it 1-0, but Blanton got Josh Rutledge to ground into the inning ending double play.
The Dodgers appeared to put the game away in the eighth when they added on four more runs. Luis Cruz walked, Andre Ethier singled, and Rivera also walked to get the bases juiced. Ellis was red hot to start the year, cooled off in the second half, but reminded everyone why he's a breakout player this year with a grand slam to deep right to make it 10-1.
All was looking good, until the bottom of the eighth hit, and the wheels nearly fell completely off the bus. Blanton started the inning, but gave up a couple singles to Pacheco and Ramon Hernandez. That brought in Shawn Tolleson, who was just called back up when Scott Elbert hit the DL again. Needless to say, Tolleson shouldn't have even boarded the plane to Colorado, as he was absolutely atrocious.
Chris Nelson and DJ LeMahieu hit consecutive RBI singles, Andrew Brown walked, and Fowler hit an RBI single to make it 10-4. Thanks a lot, Shawn. You suck. So out he went and in came Randy Choate, who immediately beaned Colving to force in a run.
With Kenley Jansen unavailable, Don Mattingly already had a thin bullpen, but he still went with Ronald Belisario to get out of this mess. He got Rutledge to ground into a forceout, but a run still scored to make it 10-6. An RBI single by Carlos Gonzalez made it 10-7, and a bobble by Victorino in center brought in another for a 10-8 score. Mercifully, Pacheco grounded to second to end the inning.
Belisario stayed on for the save, and got LeMahieu to ground into a double play to end the game. It was his first save of the season.
Wow, what an exhausting game this turned out to be. I know the Dodgers weren't happy about the strike zone, especially in the final inning, but that was still way too close. Everything they do now is under a microscope considering all of the trades they made, but if the playoffs started today, they would be on the outside looking in. Games like this won't exactly make that path to the postseason easier.
Blanton stepped up and delivered a good game. He lasted 7 1/3 innings for 10 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 5 strikeouts. That's obviously a lot of hits, but in a place like Coors Field, it's almost bound to happen. The bottom line is that he didn't let many of those runners score, and the Dodgers will take it.
The bullpen, however, continues to be somewhat of a mess. Tolleson was just atrocious, failing to get even one out before surrendering four runs. Choate hasn't been what the Dodgers thought they'd be getting. In 7 1/3 innings he has a 3.68 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Not terrible numbers, but not good either. With Elbert out again, he really needs to get it together.
This is why Belisario is so important right now. I've been hard on him in the past, but in looking at his numbers now, he hasn't given up a run since August 13 against the Pirates. In this game, he got five big outs in a close game facing a sweep. I'll give credit where it's due. And with Jansen out indefinitely, they need him now more than ever.
Thursday starts a four-game set at home against the Diamondbacks. A month ago this same team came to LA and swept the Dodgers. Hopefully Kemp can get back into action soon, but if not, the Dodgers still have a good enough offense to win. Clayton Kershaw will go in the first game.
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