The Giants have looked anything but like a defending World Series champion entering Friday night's home game, so when they got up 1-0 after one, the home crowd was excited.
And then the Dodgers started tagging Matt Cain, and they never looked back.
Led by the best night in an otherwise horrible three-year career in LA of Juan Uribe, the Dodgers continued to roll their competition with a 10-2 victory. While the Giants have lost 9 of their last 10, the Dodgers have climbed into a second place tie thanks to winning 11 of their last 13.
Hyun-Jin Ryu ended up throwing a solid game, but it didn't start that way in the first. Andres Torres led off with a single and Marco Scutaro took a walk. After Pablo Sandoval popped up, Buster Posey also walked to load the bases. Hunter Pence got a run home on a fielder's choice, but that was all the damage.
The Uribe Show started in the second, giving the Dodgers a lead they would never relinquish in what turned out to be a laugher. The bases became loaded right away on a walk to Hanley Ramirez, a double by Andre Ethier, and another walk to Matt Kemp, who ended up leaving the game shortly after when he felt a twinge in his left shoulder. He's listed as day-to-day, thankfully. Uribe then lined a two-run double, putting the Dodgers up 2-1.
The third is when the Dodgers chased Cain, who looked about as bad as I've ever seen him. Between the Dodgers lacing the ball and pitch after pitch in the dirt, it was a horrific performance for him. It all started when Yasiel Puig hit a leadoff double, then Adrian Gonzalez walked. Ramirez singled up the middle, and it was 3-1.
The returning Carl Crawford soon hit for Kemp and walked to again load the bases. A.J. Ellis hit an RBI single to go up 4-1. The big blow then came when Uribe hit a sinking liner to left that was just out of the reach of a diving Cole Gillespie, going all the way to the wall for a three-run triple. Even Ryu added an RBI single. Add it all up, and the Dodgers held an 8-1 advantage.
The game was obviously over from there, but Uribe wasn't done. He added to his personal highlight reel with a two-run shot in the seventh, running his RBI total up to seven. He actually had a chance for the cycle in the ninth, but struck out needing a single.
It's safe to say that this game was BY FAR the best game Uribe has played in his 2 1/2 year career in Dodger blue. The ball was jumping off his bat, and even if the triple was caught in the third, he still would've had a big night. Plus, let's not ignore the sharp grounders he gloved at third all night long. He definitely put it all together.
In looking at his stats, Uribe is having a quietly effective season. He's now hitting .280 with a .355 OBP, to go along with 10 doubles, a triple, 5 home runs, and 27 RBIs. Those numbers won't "wow" you, but he's definitely contributing during this recent Dodgers' run of success. Lord know he's taken enough flak the last three years (myself, and just about everyone else included). So you know what? Good for him for shutting everyone up with a game like this. Let's hope he keeps doing that.
Ryu settled down after a shaky first to go 6 2/3 innings for four hits, two runs, three walks, and three strikeouts. He's now 7-3 with a 2.82 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. You don't hear his name being brought up for the All-Star Game, but why not? He would more than deserve a slot.
The Dodgers have to feel good about the two weekend games. First they hand the ball to Stephen Fife on Saturday, who's been pitching very well of late. Then it's Clayton Kershaw time on Sunday. This could be two straight sweeps of the rivals.
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