The Dodgers have the perfect answer to catching the Pirates for one of the two Wild Card spots: Shane Victorino.
Just like his days in Philly, the Pirates had little success in holding down Victorino, as his double and homer led to three RBIs, and the Dodgers held off a late charge to get the win, 5-4. The Giants and Ryan Vogelsong were uncharacteristically creamed at home by the Nationals, 14-2, so the NL West is once again tied up top.
As the Pirates have done way too often lately, they found themselves losing early. In the third, A.J. Ellis hit a leadoff double. A sacrifice by Aaron Harang got him over to third, and Victorino had his first RBI of the night on a double, making it 1-0. Mark Ellis walked, which is always a dumb thing to do when Matt Kemp is hitting behind him. Sure enough, Kemp hit an RBI single to go up 2-0.
The lead could have been stretched out even more, but credit Garrett Jones for making a great catch at the wall off of Andre Ethier's bat, and then doubling up Kemp.
The Pirates got those runs right back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Starling Marte singled, and then an out later, Andrew McCuthen walked. Jones continued his big night with a two-run double, and we were back to where we started.
Victorino gave the Dodgers the lead again in the fifth. Harang was the one who started the rally, singling with one out. Victorino then lined a low pitch out to deep right for the two-run shot, his first as a Dodger, and it was 4-2.
The biggest scare of the night came in the seventh, and not just because the Pirates threatened to score. Javy Guerra got the first two outs, walked Josh Harrison, then saw Marte reach on a rare error by Mark Ellis. In came Randy Choate, who thankfully was just able to get his glove up in time to catch a rocket hit right at his head by Neil Walker. Whoa, was that close!
Another run was added in the seventh by the Dodgers. With Juan Cruz in, Kemp walked, Ethier was beaned, and Hanley Ramirez walked, all with one down. Tony Watson relieved to pitch to James Loney, but Don Mattingly countered with Juan Rivera. It was a good move, as Rivera lined an RBI single for the 5-2 lead. The Dodgers did leave the bases loaded with one out though, failing to really push the lead ahead.
Wouldn't you know it, not getting more runs in that spot almost cost them the lead, mainly because it meant Ronald Belisario came in. He started things off by failing to glove a simple bouncer back to the mound by McCutchen, then giving up an RBI double to Jones to make it 5-3. A flyout and groundout came next, but Mike McKenry's RBI single made it 5-4 before Clint Barmes grounded out to end the inning.
Kenley Jansen was not nearly as dramatic in the ninth, easily setting down the Pirates in order for his 24th save.
In 39 career games against the Pirates, Victorino is hitting .331 with a .410 OBP. Most importantly for the Dodgers, he's really getting settled in as the leadoff man, safely hitting in 9 of 11 games this month, including 7 straight. Even though he's a veteran and a winner in the past, even he had to go through an adjustment period of moving from one coast to the other. I think now he's ready to roll.
Harang got his record above .500 at 8-7 with a solid effort. He lasted six innings for five hits, two runs, three walks, and four strikeouts. His ERA is pretty good at 3.76, though his WHIP is a little on the high side at 1.39, so you'd like to see that come down a bit. He did himself a favor with his single in front of Victorino's homer, which turned out to be the difference in the game.
As for Belisario, well... you can pretty much just look at what I've said in recent times about him, because it hasn't changed. At this point, there's just no way he should be the sole setup man. Hitters have obviously figured him out. That doesn't mean his stuff isn't good, it just means that hitters know what's coming and are good enough to adjust. It's time the Dodgers do the same.
After going 4-5 on their recent homestand, the Dodgers have started their 10-game roadie at 3-1. I actually think they play better on the road, at least as the season has progressed. At home they're 33-25, and 30-28 on the road. There's only three other teams in the National League with winning road records (Nationals, Braves, and Giants), so it's clearly not an easy thing to do. But in my view, they look more relaxed and play better. At least from where I sit.
Chad Billingsley will look to make it four of the first five on this trip when he takes the mound Tuesday night. He'll be opposed by Kevin Correia.
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