Matt Kemp has certainly experienced a tale of two seasons this year. From the best player in baseball to start the season (by far), to an injury-plagued, frustrating end of the season, he's been through it all.
Friday night reminded everyone that even at less than 100%, he can still deliver the big hit.
With the bases loaded, two outs, and an 0-2 count, Kemp lined an inside fastball to right for a two-run single, giving the Dodgers an advantage they would not relinquish, winning 3-1 in 10 innings. The Reds came into this one needing a win to clinch the NL Central, but they'll have to wait a little bit longer.
A ninth inning comeback by the Cubs in Wrigley led to a win in extras for them over the Cardinals, so the Dodgers are back to two down for the final Wild Card spot.
There obviously wasn't much scoring in this game, not that news like that should surprise any of you considering the Dodgers have a personal vendetta against scoring runs in September. Both of the big guns for each team, Kemp and Joey Votto, singled in the first, but nothing came of it.
The Dodgers did crack the scoreboard in the second. Hanley Ramirez legged out an infield single leading off, with a little help from a bobble at short by Zack Cozart. He then stole second and took third on Luis Cruz's single. Juan Rivera got the start for an ailing Shane Victorino (sore wrist), and his RBI groundout made it 1-0.
Both Joe Blanton and Bronson Arroyo turned back the clock a bit, as they gave the hitters pretty much nothing to work with. In the fifth, however, the Reds finally broke through. With two outs, Xavier Paul (remember him?) hit a ground rule double. Ryan Hanigan was given the intentional pass to pitch to Arroyo. And wouldn't you know it, Arroyo came up with an RBI single to tie the game at one.
Each team had chances to score in the sixth, and each blew it. For the Dodgers, Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez singled with two outs, but Ramirez could only muster a pop up in foul territory at first.
The Reds again made some noise with two outs. Scott Rolen kept the inning alive with a single, which also brought the hook for Blanton. Randy Choate came in to pitch to Jay Bruce, but after Rolen stole second, Bruce was put on intentionally. Scott Tolleson entered, walked Drew Stubbs to load the bases, but got a called third strike to set down Paul for the last out.
That was really the last threat in paid baseball, as Ronald Belisario struck out five of the six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth. The Dodgers also saw the return of Jonathan Broxton, who also went 1-2-3 in the ninth. I'm surprised the Dodgers didn't try and sign Matt Stairs for this series, just to see Broxton sneak out of the stadium and disappear until Monday.
In the 10th, the Dodgers came within a hair of blowing a golden opportunity to score, but mercifully got that one big hit they needed. Seth LeClure started the inning by beaning Elian Herrera. A.J. Ellis then grounded one to Bruce at first, who tried to force Herrera at second, but came up empty because of a low throw. Nick Punto sacrificed both them into scoring position before Mark Ellis walked to load the bases.
So here the Dodgers were with the bases loaded and one out. Sean Marshall was summoned to pitch to Andre Ethier hitting in the #2 spot. It worked, as Ethier struck out and failed to at least push one run home. Marshall stayed on to pitch to Kemp and got two quick strikes, but Kemp collected his third hit of the night with a two-run single, making it 3-1.
Brandon League is still the closer right now as Kenley Jansen slowly makes his way back, and he recorded his fourth save when another old friend, Dioner Navarro, grounded to Gonzalez at first to end the game.
The Dodgers are only 8-10 in the month of September, and it's a good thing they actually won three straight to start. In fact, six of their wins have been a single run, and Friday night's game by two. About the only game you can call a "comfortable" win was back on September 15 when they beat the Cardinals 8-5. But even in that, they game was 5-5 until Cruz hit a three-run homer in the sixth. The bottom line is that it's been one grind after another.
It's an old saying, but the Dodgers sure will take any win they can get. Blowout or nail biter, it doesn't matter. They just have to find a way as they battle through an offense that looks lost most nights and a starting rotation that is permanently without Ted Lilly and Chad Billingsley, and with Clayton Kershaw on the mend. Things sure haven't been easy.
Blanton deserves a whole lot of credit for this win. I wasn't exactly feeling confident when I saw he was starting, especially considering he was sporting a 4.97 ERA coming into it. But much to his credit, he looked very good by going 5 2/3 innings for four hits, one run, one walk, and six strikeouts. I think a veteran start like this is exactly what the Dodgers had in mind when they traded for him. He's someone who shouldn't be afraid of the moment. On Friday night, he pitched like it.
Once again, let's give big props to the bullpen for their flawless work. Choate didn't exactly do much, but Tolleson, Jansen, Belisario, and League pitched the final 4 1/2 without giving up a hit and striking out eight. The Reds bullpen has widely been regarded as the best in baseball, and rightfully so, but the Dodgers can be just as good when everyone's healthy. They sure were in this game.
Every time the Dodgers get a win, the question is then asked if it will propel them to a bunch more. Well, that hasn't happened yet, as a win is usually followed up by a dud. We all know there's no time for slumps anymore if they want to play in that one-game Wild Card playoff. If they lay an egg this weekend, their margin for error becomes super slim.
Young Stephen Fife will get another start as the Dodgers await word on Kershaw's status for Sunday. It won't be easy for him, as he goes up against Matt Latos and his 12-4 record.
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