Hey, you can't blame me for getting exciting. When you watch your favorite team rank nearly dead last in every offensive category to open the season, even six runs would get you excited, too.
The Dodgers began their first homestand of the season at a 4-2 clip thanks to a strong start from Hyun-Jin Ryu and some production with runners on base. Despite being down two runs before you barely got comfortable in your favorite chair watching this, the bats fought back to turn this into a weekend sweep, 6-2.
The only blemish on the day came right away. Starling Marte singled leading off, one of his two hits on the day. Ryu got Neil Walker popping up for the first out, but Andrew McCutchen cranked a two-run shot out to left. Believe it or not, that homer was the first of the entire season for the Pirates, who certainly aren't giving their fans much of a reason to believe they'll finally get over the .500 mark for the first time since... well, forever.
After that, it was all Dodgers. It started in the bottom of the frame, as they got those two runs right back. Nick Punto got the start at second in place of the resting Mark Ellis, who eventually entered the game later anyway, and singled. Matt Kemp has had a slow start to the season, which isn't a whole lot different than the others, but his double put two on. Adrian Gonzalez singled up the middle to score two, and it was 2-2.
The healthy Carl Crawford continued his hot start with a double to center leading off the third. Punto's bunt got him to third, and he scored on Kemp's sac-fly, making it 3-2. Get him on, get him over, and get him in. That's National League baseball, and something the Dodgers need to get better at if they want their offense to catch up to their pitching.
Crawford again started a rally in the fifth by singling. Punto singled next, but Kemp grounded into the dreaded DP. Gonzalez picked him up with another RBI single for the 4-2 lead.
Ryu struck out Pedro Alvarez to begin the seventh, which isn't that big of a deal considering EVERYBODY strikes that guy out. He was then lifted for Ronald Belisario. Jose Tabata reached on an infield single and an errant throw by Punto at third, but nothing came of it.
The bottom of the seventh brought the year's first shocking moment. Nope, Clayton Kershaw didn't homer again. But Justin Sellers did! His first hit of the season cleared the fence in left, and it was 5-2. Walks to Punto and Kemp again gave Gonzalez an RBI opportunity, and he delivered by singling home Punto for 6-2 advantage.
Belisario made it through the seventh in order. Matt Guerrier (remember him?) entered in the ninth... and was quickly yanked after a one-out walk to light-hitting catcher Michael McKenry. Good call by Don Mattingly, who clearly was annoyed, and rightfully so. J.P. Howell struck out Alvarez and Clint Barmes to seal the deal.
Ryu bounced back from a shaky first start in which he surrendered 10 hits in just over six innings to the Giants to be much more efficient in this one. Here he lasted 6 1/3 innings for three hits, two runs, two walks, and six strikeouts. Get rid of the first inning, and he gave up only one hit and one walk the rest of the way. He clearly found a groove, and it showed.
Of course, it was good to see some production out of the bats, who haven't had much to be happy out so far. Granted, it's still so early in the season, but 11 runs in five games is pretty poor. In this game, they went 3-for-8 with RISP, including the two-out, two-run single by Gonzalez to tie things up in the first.
Crawford and Gonzalez are both raking with their averages of .450 and .400, respectively. Now they just need Kemp and his .100 to get going, along with Andre Ethier's modest .278, who got the day off.
Juan Uribe went 0-for-3, keeping his average at an incredible .000. Quit playing him! Geez!
Playing in front of a packed Dodger Stadium is always fun, but now the Dodgers will take their talents on the road for the next six: three with the Padres, followed by three with the Diamondbacks. The Padres are still atrocious, and have pretty much zero impact players left on that roster. Tony Gwynn, Trevor Hoffman, and even Greg Vaughn are rolling over in their graves. The DBacks look good so far at 5-1, so that will be a good test.
Josh Beckett will look to get his first win on Tuesday against Clayton Richard in the Padres' home opener.
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