Add this nice little tidbit to the long list of Dodgers' ills this year: they lost to the Giants for the first time in 25 years when scoring at least eight runs.
I would laugh if it wasn't so sad.
Despite putting up a seven-spot in the fifth to overcome a 6-1 deficit, the Dodgers still found a way to lose for the second straight night on a walk-off homer. Friday night it was superstar Buster Posey, Saturday night it was the unknown Guillermo Quiroz. The loss puts the Dodgers three games under .500, the win gives the Giants a share of first place with the Rockies at 18-12.
Hey, at least the Kings won. So rejoice, LA. At least you have SOMETHING to be happy about!
With a lineup that didn't include Adrian Gonzalez (sore neck) or Hanley Ramirez (15-day DL, hamstring), the Dodgers got pounded in the first couple of frames. Matt Kemp ended the Dodgers' opening inning with a double play, which of course led to three runs for the Giants.
Young Matt Magill didn't exactly get much help from his defense, as Angel Pagan popped up leading off for the Giants. The combination of the sun and hitting into a dead zone allowed the ball to drop for "double." After two straight walks to Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval, Posey came within a few feet of a grand slam, setting for a grand rule double for the 2-0 lead.
The third run was scored on Gregor Blanco's infield single to make it 3-0 after one.
The next inning wasn't much better, as Magill didn't even last the whole frame. Scutaro and Sandoval singled with one out, and Scutaro scooted (I had to say it) home to go up 4-0. Following a walk to Posey and single by Hunter Pence, J.P. Howell relieved and gave up a sac-fly RBI to Blanco before getting Brandon Crawford to ground out.
At this point the game sure looked like a lost cause, as there sure were better things to watch (Bulls-Nets, Kings-Blues, Mayweather-Guerrero on PPV). A.J. Ellis was able to hit a solo shot with one out in the fourth to make it 5-1. The Giants got that run right back on an RBI fielder's choice, so it was 6-1.
The unthinkable happened in the fifth: the Dodgers actually got hits with runners on. And it was against a good pitcher in Ryan Vogelsong, who hasn't pitched well this season, but is a proven playoff winner. Like many rallies, it all started on a walk, as Nick Punto hit for Howell and drew the free pass.
A fielder's choice erased Punto at second, but Jerry Hairston's ground rule double put runners in scoring position. Kemp didn't hit a signature bomb, but his single to center was good enough to plate two to put the Dodgers down 6-3.
Andre Ethier flew out to make it two down, which is absolutely no surprise considering he's only hitting .250 and is pretty much a complete non-factor at this point. Ellis drew a walk, which led to consecutive RBI singles by Skip Schumaker and Juan Uribe. Yes, you did just read that. At 6-5, Vogelsong's night was now over.
Jean Machi came in, but didn't fare any better. One of the real bright spots for the Dodgers on this night was the 2012 debut of Dee Gordon, who smoked a two-run triple to right center to get the lead at 7-6. An RBI double by Punto put the Dodgers up 8-6 in a stunning inning to say the least.
Now if you thought the Dodgers would just cruise from there, you would be sorely mistaken. Keep in mind it was only the fifth, and the Giants began the comeback right away when Andre Torres hit a solo shot off of Javy Guerra, who also was recently recalled from Triple-A.
The Dodgers blew a chance with two on in the sixth, which naturally led to the Giants tying the game in the bottom half. Guerra loaded the bases on a single, walk, and hit-by-pitch. Paco Rodriguez did an excellent job in striking out Crawford and Brandon Belt, but a wild pitch allowed Posey to score and tie the game at 8-8.
Both teams traded runs in the seventh thanks to RBIs by Carl Crawford and Sandoval. Gordon got to second in the ninth but was stranded, and Posey grounded into a double play with the bases loaded to send the game to extras.
The Dodgers looked tired in the 10th, as they were already playing short-handed and couldn't even keep a lead with nine runs scored. With one out in the 10th, Quiroz lined a solo homer to left off of Brandon League to send the Giants home happy once again.
The nine runs was a season-high, but the bottom line is that it's three straight loses, four of the last five, and five of the last seven. This team simply isn't capable of putting everything together at once. If they score, they give up too many. If their pitching comes through, they can't get the big hit. It doesn't help that everybody and their mother is hurt, too.
Magill will certainly have better nights, as he couldn't get anything going. He lasted only 1 1/3 innings for six hits, five runs, four walks, and two strikeouts. I can't help but point out how his downfall started when nobody could catch Pagan's popup leading off. That's still no excuse for walking four, but I have to think he wouldn't settled in better had the first hitter not reached. Guess we'll never know.
The bullpen was the usual mixed bag, which may actually be an improvement considering how lousy they normally are. The southpaws Howell and Rodriguez combined for one run in nearly four innings. Guerra was terrible, which is no surprise. It's hard to imagine he was once a solid closer. Yikes. Ronald Belisario gave up another run, and somehow has an ERA of 3.52. It seems like that guy gives up a run every appearance.
League is the one who lost it in the 10th, and nearly blew it in the ninth anyway. The positive is that he's 8-9 in saves (this was not a save opportunity since the score was tied). The negative is that his ERA is 4.38. Basically he's a closer who doesn't intimidate anyone. He's just kind of there. Some good, some bad, but certainly doesn't have the stuff that scares the opposition. Kenley Jansen does have that stuff, so let the speculation begin that he should be the man at the end again. I can't argue with that.
As I mentioned before, Gordon was definitely a bright spot. He was reluctantly recalled on Saturday, but played like the 2011 version that excited everyone to begin with. He collected two hits, including a two-run triple, scored twice, drew a walk, and stole two bases. When things are clicking, he's a very exciting player to watch. With the way bums like Luis Cruz and Justin Sellers are playing, Gordon has a golden opportunity to strut his stuff. Let's hope he continues to do so.
The Dodgers will look to avoid the sweep on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Hyun-Jin Ryu was fantastic in his last start, and the Dodgers need him to be the man again against the struggling Matt Cain.
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