For the first time in a month, the Dodgers have won two straight against the same team. And also for the first time in a month, the Dodgers scored more runs in the same game than the other team.
OK, so that last sentence was a joke, but not the first. Chris Capuano struck out seven, Scott Van Slyke homered, Matt Kemp got his 1,000th career hit, and the Dodgers beat the Marlins, 5-3. They took two straight games, something they haven't done against the same team since downing the Padres a month ago.
Both teams failed to take advantage of two singles in the first. Van Slyke got the start for Adrian Gonzalez at first, who's still battling neck discomfort. Leading off the second, he hit a solo shot to center for the 1-0 lead. That actually made me angry again, because I still contend he should've pinch-hit with the bases loaded on Friday and not Tim Federowicz, but I digress.
A one-out double by a suddenly hot Skip Schumaker led to another run in the fourth. He then went to third on a single by Federowicz, and scored on Nick Punto's sac-fly RBI, making it 2-0.
The Marlins cut into that lead in the sixth, when they finally got to Capuano. With one out, Justin Ruggiano laced a hard one out to left, and it was 2-1.
The seventh was a little dangerous, as Capuano was chased when he allowed a one-out double to Derek Dietrich. In came Kenley Jansen, who struck out both Adeiny Hechavarria and Chris Coghlan to end the threat.
In the bottom half, the Dodgers extended their lead. Punto and Juan Uribe greeted Jon Rauch with singles, which brought in Mike Dunn. Carl Crawford found room for an RBI single through short and third to make it 3-1. The bases were soon loaded, and Andre Ethier scored another on a sac-fly, and Van Slyke on a single, pushing the lead to 5-1.
Jansen threw more smoke in striking out two in the eighth. Don Mattingly gave the ball to Brandon League in the ninth, and things certainly got interesting. With two on and two out, Hechavarria hit an opposite field two-run double to get the score to 5-3. Greg Dobbs then pinch-hit and grounded one hard to third that Uribe had to make a sharp play on for the game's final out. That very well could have been an RBI single and a one-run game, and who knows what would've happened from there.
For the second straight night, the Dodgers completely dominated this game, for 8 1/2 innings anyway. And quite frankly, when you're playing the pathetic excuse for a Major League team that is the Marlins, that's the way it should be. Yes, Giancarlo Stanton is hurt, even if he was in the lineup, it's no-namers galore. It has to be tough rooting for that team. Good luck!
Capuano came into the game with a 10+ ERA, and exited in much better shape. He lasted 6 1/3 innings for five hits, one run, one walk, and seven strikeouts. He also lowered his ERA by nearly four runs to 6.60. With Zack Greinke due back soon, I would think Matt Magill would be the odd man out, so Capuano will get more starts. I'm sure we all feel a little more comfortable about that after today.
Like I brought up before, I was very happy to see Van Slyke get a chance. The Dodgers are third in baseball in OBP, but 28th in runs scored and slugging %. A big bat like Van Slyke could help change that. I'm not saying we should expect Manny Ramirez circa 2008 here, but anybody who hits a home run on this team should automatically be given more at-bats. Since he can play outfield as well, I'd like to see him mixed in this upcoming week.
This week will be a tough one for the Dodgers, as they take on two playoff teams from last season, the Nationals and Braves. First up is three against Bryce Harper and the boys at home, followed by an off day Thursday and a trip to Atlanta for three. Josh Beckett will look for his first win yet again on Monday. It won't be easy, as Jordan Zimmermann and his 6-1 record opposes.
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