Errors and Apples Don’t Mix; Dodgers Lose Game One in the Bronx

Dodgers 4 10 3

Yankees 6 8 0

WP- Kuroda (7-5)

LP- Ryu (6-3)

S- Rivera (25)

HR- Suzuki (3), Ramirez (2)

After a rainy New York night, the Dodgers and Yankees finally get underway for a day into night doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. Don Mattingly was relishing in the attention his homecoming to New York brought him as the legendary Bronx Bomber spoke to members of the media and enjoyed the photo opportunities. Many Dodger fans from all over the country made the historic trip to New York for the series. Our very own Kenny Shulsen was there for the series, and Dodger fans filled a big majority of Yankee Stadium in order to take in the rare doubleheader.

I wish Hiroki Kuroda never left the Dodgers. Photo: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers and Yankees both have deep roots in New York, and the Dodgers finally return to the Bronx for this special two-game series against the Yankees. The last time the Dodgers played against the Yankees in NYC was back in the 1981 World Series. A great match up between two Asian pitchers (Ryu from Korea and Kuroda from Japan) saw the veteran Kuroda come out with the win. The Dodger bullpen and defense lost this one for the Boys in Blue. Skip Schumaker and Ronald Belisario both made two errors each. The Dodgers offense couldn’t come back from all those defensive blunders. Hanley Ramirez, who was DHing, had a four-hit game which included his second homerun of the year. The Dodgers wasted many scoring opportunities. The Yankees bullpen, which has some weak links, is anchored by the virtually unhittable Mariano Rivera.

Hiroki Kuroda goes to work against his old team in the top of the first, and the righty quickly retires Nick Punto on a groundout. Yasiel Puig singles up the middle, but he tries to go for two and his thrown out by Brett Gardner. Puig’s aggressiveness is refreshing, but he still hasn’t learned about all the outfielders in the league. Adrian Gonzalez grounds out lightly to short to end the inning.

Hyun-jin Ryu retires Gardner on a fly ball, and he strikes out Jayson Nix for the first two outs in the home half of the first. The inning should be over when Robinson Cano hits a grounder to second, but the ball bounces off Skip Schumaker’s glove for an error. Ryu is annoyed, and he strikes out Vernon Wells to end the frame.

Hanley Ramirez, the designated hitter for game one, singles to left field to lead-off the second for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier hits in to a force play, Hanley is out at second. Juan Uribe also hits in to a force out, and Ethier is out at second base. Schumaker grounds out to second for the third out.

In the bottom of the second, Thomas Neal singles to right. Yasiel Puig tries to gun a throw to first to get him out, but

Yasiel Puig is tagged out after trying to stretch a single into the double. Photo: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

the throw is not on line and gets away. Neal is unable to take another base since he didn’t see the ball get away. Ichiro Suzuki singles to second even though Schumaker knocks the ball down in the infield. David Adam’s successfully bunts the runners over as A.J. Ellis throws to first for the out. Lyle Overbay crushes a double over the head of Ethier in center field, and two runs score for the Yankees. Chris Stewart is out on a one-hopper to Schumaker, and Gardner grounds out to third but the Yankees take a 2-0 lead.

A.J. Ellis leads off the third by singling on a ground ball Schumakered by Adams at third. Of course the Dodgers waste the lead-off hit. Castellanos hits in to a force, Punto flies out, and Puig lines out to center.

In the bottom of the third, Skip Schumaker makes his second error of the game on yet another Cano grounder. Cano is aboard with one out. Vernon Wells grounds in to a force after Juan Uribe makes a very nice play at third to get Cano out at second. While Schumaker is awful at second, Uribe is great at third. Ryu whiffs Neal to end the inning.

Adrian Gonzalez leads off the top of the fourth with a single. Hanley hits a beautiful double to the right field corner, and the Dodgers have runners at second and third with nobody out. The Dodgers of course choke with the runners in scoring position so typical for this 2013 season. Ethier lines a ball right into the glove of Kuroda who then doubles up Gonzo at third. Kuroda is very ninja-like. Uribe grounds out, and the Dodgers fail to score.

Ryu pitches a very nice 1-2-3 inning for the bottom of the fourth.

Kuroda returns the favor by retiring the Dodgers in order in the top of the fifth.

Chris Stewart leads off the bottom of the fifth with a walk. Gardner singles. Nix bunts over both runners. Ryu intentionally walks Cano to load the bases up for the Yankees with one out. Ryu strikes out Wells for a big second out. Thomas Neal grounds out, and Ryu escapes the jam!

Kuroda once again retires the side in order in the sixth. He strikes out Gonzo for good measure.

Hyun-jin Ryu picks up the loss in New York. Photo: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

Ichiro Suzuki launches a solo homerun to right field to begin the bottom of the sixth, and the Yankees add to their score 3-0.

Hanley Ramirez collects his third base hit with a single to lead-off the top of the seventh. Ethier draws a walk. Uribe pops up for another useless at bat with a runner in scoring position. Schumaker singles up the middle, but Tim Wallach stops Hanley abruptly at third after waiving him home at first. The Dodgers finally break up the shutout on a sacrifice fly by A.J. Ellis which allows Hanley to come home, 3-1. Jerry Hairston Jr. will bat for Alex Castellanos. Hairston comes up with a clutch RBI single, and the Dodgers pull within one run! That will be all for Hiroki Kuroda who comes out winning but responsible for the two runners on. Shawn Kelley will come out of the New York bullpen to relieve Kuroda. Kelley does his job by striking out Punto to end the inning.

Hiroki Kuroda pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk on 107 pitches.

Hyun-jin Ryu pitched 6 innings while allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 4 strikeouts and two walks on 111 pitches.

J. P. Howell will pitch the bottom of the seventh for the Dodgers while JHair stays in the game in left field. After Gardner grounds out, Nix singles. Cano follows with a single past Uribe up the third base line. Mattingly will then hook Howell and bring in Ronald Belisario. The disaster ensues. Belisario makes two errors on one play. Wells hits a ball to Belisario who bumbles the play for one error, then he turns to try to go for the out at second and he proceeds to throw the ball past second and into center field for the second error. A run scores in the process, and the Dodgers are now down 4-2. Then Belisario plunks Neal by a pitch. Mattingly comes to get Belisario out of there, but the damage is done. Paco Rodriguez will come in and become the fourth Dodger pitcher. Paco continues the bullpen woes, and Suzuki singles a bloop to left, and the Yankees plate another two runs. 6-2. Paco strikes out Adams for the second out finally. Overbay grounds out, and the torturous inning finally comes to an end, but the Yanks hang another three runs.

Preston Claiborne will pitch the eighth inning for New York. Puig then stretches a single into a double on a ball hit to center field. Last time he tried that earlier in the game he was out, but this time he’s safe! Gonzalez hits a very deep fly ball to right field, but Ichiro Suzuki makes a fine jumping catch to make the out. Then Hanley Ramirez lines a two-run homerun just over the left field wall. It was really low, but it just barely made it over! The Dodgers are now down 6-4. David Robertson will replace Claiborne on the mound for NY. Ethier draws another walk with one out. Uribe also draws a walk, and the Yankee bullpen is struggling a bit here. Schumaker pops out to third. A.J. Ellis grounds into a force to end the inning. The Dodgers tack on two, but can they add more in the ninth?

Matt Guerrier will pitch the bottom of the eighth. Guerrier actually pitches a perfect 1-2-3 inning.

The Dodgers have one last chance to score here in the first game of this historic doubleheader. The four errors have cost the Dodgers so far. Mariano Rivera comes in to close shop. The chances are next to nothing for the Dodgers here. Gardner makes a nice catch in right field to retire JHair. Rivera whiffs Punto. Yasiel Puig will now face Rivera, and Rivera strikes him out looking to end the game. Rivera, who picks up his 25th save, is like a machine.

The Dodgers fall to a season-high 11 games under .500. As they ready for game two, we all wonder how far will things go before changes are made at the top? Today’s loss marks the 40th of the season.

Stay tuned for game two at 4:05 p.m. on Prime Ticket. Scott will take over for the second half of the doubleheader. Go Blue!