Schumaker’s Homer, and Ryu’s Pitching Lift Dodgers Over Reds

The Dodgers beat the Reds to take a 2-1 series lead on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd at Dodger Stadium. The big hullabaloo was that Hyun-jin Ryu, who was the starting pitcher for the Dodgers on Saturday night would be facing his fellow Korea countryman Reds Center fielder Shin-soo Choo. The place was packed with Korean media everywhere. It was a huge deal apparently. I was more concentrated on the Dodgers getting the win and picking up a game on Arizona.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (99) pitches during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.-Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Before the game we learned that Carl Crawford had to be hospitalized for a short time because he was sick with the flu. Crawford was alright, but the Dodgers called it a precautionary measure. Crawford had a high fever, so he was not in the starting lineup. Skip Schumaker started in his place in left field and batted lead-off. This would turn out to be extremely important to the Dodgers. Who knew that Schumaker would be the difference in this game? Well, he was, and if he continues playing this well then I may have to stop making fun of him.

I was actually at the game tonight, so I apologize for the late recap. Since it’s late and I just returned home I’ll have to make this quick, and just hit the highlights.

Schumaker was terrific tonight.-Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The night was somewhat frustrating for me. The Dodgers won so I was happy, but here are the following things that happened to me on my trip to Dodger Stadium.

1. I arrived late because of traffic and missed the first pitch.

2. I got up to the gate only to find out I had left my ticket in my car.

3. I was unable to locate my car in the Dodger Stadium parking lot.

4.  Because I was unable to locate my car, I missed the first three innings of the game

5.  I dropped my Dodger Dog

6. I spilled my iced tea all over this poor security guard who was lame enough to ask me to pour out my iced tea. (It was in a plastic Dodger cup, not a can or bottle)

Talk about a disaster right? If you have never been to a Dodger game before, make sure you like tie some kind of tracking beacon on your car, otherwise you may never find it. The Dodger Stadium parking lot is huge, always has been and it’s even bigger when it’s packed to the brim. Or maybe I should just learn not to forget my ticket in the car like a dumby. So those are the things that happened to me tonight. If the Dodgers hadn’t won I would have been even more annoyed that I already was.

Anyways, while I was having issues in the parking lot, and by the way I have never ever gotten that lost trying to find my car in the Dodger Stadium parking lot before ever. The Dodgers meanwhile were beating the Reds by a final score of 4-1.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23), right fielder Yasiel Puig (66), relief pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) and right fielder Andre Ethier (16) celebrate the 4-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.-Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Ryu dominated the Reds all night long. Ryu pitched seven dominate innings, allowing just one run on two hits while walking none and whiffing nine. Ronald Belisario, Paco Rodriguez, and Kenley Jansen combined to keep the Reds off the scoreboard the rest of the game, as Jansen earned his 14 save of the season.

The Reds starter, Bronson Arroyo, was not as fortunate. Arroyo lasted just 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, and whiffed just one.

The Dodgers got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first. Yasiel Puig walked, Advanced to second on an Adrian Gonzalez fly ball, and then stole third. With Puig on third, Hanley Ramirez doubled into the gap in center. That easily scored Puig, and the Dodgers were up 1-0.

The Reds scored their lone run in the top of the second. Jay Bruce led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, that evened the score at 1-1. That’s Bruce’s 22nd home run of the season and second of the series. The Reds threatened in the top of the third, when Chris Heisey tripled, but was stranded there when Ryu whiffed Joey Votto looking on strikes.

The Dodgers broke it open in the bottom of the fifth. Mark Ellis opens the frame with a line drive single. Ryu sacrificed him over to second. Now remember how I said that Crawford’s illness would play a huge role in this game? Well, that’s because Skip Schumaker slammed a huge two-run home run to dead center field over the center field fence. The Dodgers lead 3-1. That’s Schumaker’s second home run of the season and the week. Schumaker was 2 for 4 on the game with two runs scored, a two-run home run,a nd two runs driven in. That’s a game ball for you Skip.

Schumaker was involved again in another Dodger scoring rally in the bottom of the seventh. It was his double, and Gonzalez’s RBI single that gave the Dodgers an additional insurance run. That made the score 4-1 Dodgers. That was it. Jansen pitched a perfect top of the ninth inning, inducing Choo to ground out. Heisey flied out, and Votto flied out to Schumaker. The Dodgers win 4-1!

The Dodgers had ten hits on the night, while the Reds were held to just two. The Dodger pitching was magnificent. What’s even more magnificent was that Arizona lost to San Diego tonight. So the Dodger lead is now back to a game and a half.

Well guys, my night at the Stadium may have been a bit awkward for me because of my poor direction sense, but the Dodgers just keep on rolling. Tomorrow the Boys in Blue will go for the series win as Cincinnati rookie Tony Cingrani will duel Chris Capuano tomorrow afternoon at 1:10 PM.

BTW big ups to the nice security guard and two cops who helped me look for my car. I appreciate the help.