I See Ryu!-Ryu’s Dominant Start, And Hanley’s Bomb Lead Dodgers To 6-2 Win

You know what they say, one good turn deserves another. If that is true, and I think it is, the Dodgers turned the other cheek so to speak, beating the Colorado Rockies 6-2 in the second game of the three game series. After the Dodgers 12-2 slaughtering from Tyler Chatwood and the Rockie’s lineup last night, tonight’s game was like a dishful of revenge served up nice and cold.

The Dodgers turned things around completely with a solid win on Hanley’s bobblehead night. Much of the excitement pre-game surrounded the return of Hanley Ramirez. Hanley made his first start of the season after briefly appearing last night as a pinch-hitter. Hanley didn’t disappoint collecting two hits on the night, including a monster home run into the left field pavilion. The shot harkened us back to the days of Manny’s bobblehead slam back in 2009.

The main story of the game however was the tale of Hyun-jin Ryu’s domination over a Colorado lineup that had 19 hits the night before. Ryu whiffed 12 in six masterful frames. He allowed only a solo home run to Cargo in the first, and an RBI double from Michael Cuddyer in the sixth. All of the strike outs ran up Ryu’s pitch count, which tired him out a little bit. However the big left hander was able to get out of the only trouble he saw, and pick up the win.

Ryu whiffed 12 in six frames.-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Jorge De La Rosa’s miseries against the Dodgers continued as the Dodgers went to town off of him like they were having dinner. De La Rosa had never beaten the Dodgers before, and was 0-7 lifetime. De La Rosa lasted just four frames, allowing six runs on 11 hits, and whiffing only one. Not missing bats was a huge problem for De La Rosa who allowed two runs in the first, second, and third frames.

Hairston, Punto, Kemp, and Hanley all had two hits, with Jhair having three on the night. Kemp jad an RBI single in the first inning. RBI singles from Punto and Hairston accounted for the scoring in the second inning, and Hanley’s big home run was in the bottom of the third. Ryu added an RBI single himself in the same frame, extending the Dodger lead to 6-1 at the time. The Dodgers finish the month of April with a .500 record.

After the game, Ryu got to meet pop star PSY, who had attended the game wanting to see and meet his fellow countrymen. You could say the Dodgers won the game, Ryu-style? This was a great game all around. Here are the highlights…..

Recording artist Psy in attendance during the game between the Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Hyun-jin Ryu strikes out the side in the first inning, but Cargo’s first inning bomb puts Colorado ahead 1-0. Ryu starts the frame by whiffing Dexter Fowler, and Josh Rutledge both whiff. The always annoying Carlos Gonzalez follows with a home run into the right field pavilion seats. Ryu recovers to whiff Michael Cuddyer for the third out. 1-0 Colorado.

The Dodgers fight right back with two runs off of Jorge De La Rosa in the bottom of the first. Jerry Hairston leading off tonight in place of the sore Crawford reaches on a bloop single to center, that falls right in front of Fowler, and bouncing into his glove. Nick Punto reaches on an infield bunt single to first, while performing his trademark head first slide into first base. Matt Kemp’s single up the middle scores Jhair, and that ties the game at 1-1. Punto moves over to third base. With runners on the corners, Adrian Gonzalez’s sac fly to right scores Punto, to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. That brings up Hanley Ramirez for his first at-bat of the season. Hanley grounds out, and Andre Ethier ends the inning with a pop-up.

Ryu continues to dominate the strike zone in the top of the second. Jordan Pacheco whiffs, and Nolan Arenado, and Yorvit Torrealba both ground out. Ryu already has four whiffs, and it’s only the second inning.

In the bottom of the second,  The Dodgers plate two more, but a botched bunt attempt prevented them from more scorage. A.J. Ellis walks, and Juan Uribe singles to left. Ryu tries to sacrifice both runners over to second and third, but he can’t bunt to save his life. The bunt is poorly placed, and Arenado comes racing in to turn a 5-6-3 double play. Arenado firing to Herrera at third to throw out AJ, and then going across the diamond to get Ryu. With two outs now, and Uribe at second, Hairston’s line drive single scores Uribe all the way from second, and the Dodgers lead 3-1. Jhair advances to second on the throw home, which was off-line. Punto immediately singles in Jhair, and the Dodgers extend their lead to 4-1.

Hanley goes Bomb!-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Ryu dominates again in the top of the third. Herrera and De La Rosa whiff, and Fowler grounds out. The fireworks continue again for the Dodgers in the bottom of the third, with two more runs. After Gonzo whiffs, Haney homers halfway up the left field pavilion for an I See You bobble shot. Ethier doubles down the first base line, and after a ground-out and an intentional walk to Uribe, Ryu comes up and delivers another hit. This one a clean single to right, to score Dre, and the Dodgers lead 6-1. Remember that three-hit game Ryu had in Arizona? Well he’s at it again!

Ryu whiffed two more in the top of the fourth. Cuddyer and Pacheco are the victims, and that gives Ryu eight whiffs on the night, and it’s only the top of the fourth. The Dodgers get consecutive hits from Gonzo and Hanley in the bottom of the fourth, but are unable to get either of them home. Hanley’s hit was a double down the line. De La Rosa gets Ethier to ground out to end the frame.

The whiff parade goes on for Ryu in the top of the fifth. Arenado flies out to Kemp. Torrealba, and Herrera both whiff to give Ryu ten whiffs on the night. Ten whiffs! We’re only in the fifth inning up to this point.

This was the lone highlight of the night for Colorado-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Edger Escalona replaces Jorge De La Rosa. De La Rosa’s misery against the Dodgers continues, as he is taken out after only four frames. He allows six runs on eleven hits, and only whiffs one. Terrible start for DLR. Escalona pitches a 123 bottom of the fifth, whiffing AJ and Ryu.

Move to the top of the sixth, with the Dodgers still up 6-1. Ryu starts to get tired, but gets out of the inning only allowing one run to score. Reid Brignac is called out on strikes for the eleventh whiff for Ryu. Fowler singles off of Punto’s glove. Rutledge’s grounder moves Fowler to second. Ryu walks Cargo as Fowler steals third, and the Rockies have runners on first and third. Cuddyer’s double to right scores Fowler to make it a 6-2 score. The Dodgers have a meeting on the mound to determine if Ryu has enough gas in the tank to finish the inning.  He does. Ryu whiffs Pacheco for number 12 on the night to give him an even baker’s dozen.

Move to the top of the seventh. Ronald Belisario enters the game in relief of Ryu. Great game for our star from the far east. Ryu pitches six frames, allowing just two runs on three hits. He whiffs 12 and walks two, He makes 105 pitches, and is in line for the win. Belisario gets Arenado to ground out, but walks Torrealba. Ryan Wheeler flies out to left. Brignac’s ground ball single moves Torrealba to second, but Belisario gets Fowler to whiff, and the inning is over.

Ethier scores in the second frame-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

After Matt Belisle sets the Dodgers down in the bottom of the seventh, Kenley Jansen comes in to pitch the top of the eighth. Rutledge’s single to short, is erased when Cargo grounds into a double play. Cuddyer’s fly ball to right sends the game to the ninth with the Dodgers leading 6-2. Kenley Jansen remains on the mound for the top of the ninth, since he only made 9 pitches to finish the eighth. Jansen retires the side in the ninth, and the Dodgers win by a final score of 6-2.

This was a very pleasant game. Thank god Hanley is back. We see you Hanley, yes indeed we see you. Of course I am also hoping we see all of you tomorrow night, as the Dodgers battle the Rockies in the rubber game at 7:10 PM. An undefeated Juan Nicasio will battle a win-less Josh Beckett. Don’t miss out! Go Blue.