Dodgers Go For Another Series Win, Hyun-jin Style!

Dodgers Lineup vs. Cardinals

Hyun-jin Ryu-10-3 vs. Carlos Martinez-0-0

The Boys…. Are…. Back….. in…. town! The boys are back around! Get down! If you have a guitar, throw it to the sky. Alright I don’t know what I’m saying here, but the Dodgers are good, and they got a little bit of luck last night. The Dodgers after their 13-4 drubbing of the Red Birds will look to win the four game series, in this playoff preview behind Hyun-jin Ryu at Busch Stadium later tonight.

Last night Shelby Miller had to be removed after two pitches when Carl Crawford’s first inning line drive struck him on the elbow/arm. He was alright, and x-rays were negative. It looks like it’s just a big old bruise. The Dodgers got a huge break, and were able to take advantage big time. Sledge Hammer!

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Wrigley Field.-Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The offense was like a sledge hammer. Go listen to Peter Gabriel. He’ll explain the Dodger offense in that track for you. Andre Ethier had four runs driven in. Schumaker drove in four against his former team, and Carl Crawford had four hits. The Dodgers tallied up 13 runs on 18 hits last night. When you score that many runs you are going to win, and the Dodgers sure did.

That assures the Dodgers of no less than a sweep. The Dodgers have not lost a series since mid June, so that streak lives on. The Dodgers are 10-0-4 in their last 14 series. Poor Jake Westbrook. Talk about taking one for the team right? I somewhat feel sorry for him. He was supposed to pitch tonight, but that’s not happening. Apparently the Cardinals are calling up one of their prospects.  It’s a pitcher by the name of Carlos Martinez, who will be making his first major league start. I’ve vaguely heard of him, but I don’t know anything about him.

So let’s get into this kid here. He’s 21 years old, a right hander, from the Dominican. Baseball America ranked him as the number 38 prospect in all of Baseball. The Cardinals just signed him as a free agent in 2010, and he’s performed well in the minors.

Hyun-jin Ryu style! Hyun Hyun Hyun-jin Ryu Style!-Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

His numbers reflect a power pitcher, and according to reports, he’s got a good fastball and great breaking stuff, (curveball and changeup). He is 6’0, 185 pounds, and bats right handed. This year combined between double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis he has whiffed 54 and walked 23 in 62 frames, while posting a 1.87 ERA and a 5-2 record. He does have a career 7.1 hits per nine allowed in the minors, and a 9.3 whiff per nine rate. He’ll have his hands full tonight against the Dodgers. Martinez has already made his MLB debut this year with the Cardinals. He’s pitched in ten games with the big club, while posting a 5.56 ERA in 11 frames with 11 whiffs and four walks.

Here is Carlos Martinez-Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The Boys in Blue will counter with Hyun-jin Ryu. The Korean lefty is looking for his eleventh win of the season. Ryu has never faced the Cardinals but has a 5-2 record, and a 4.52 ERA on the road. Ryu is 10-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 21 starts. He has whiffed 111 and walked 42. He’s allowed just 11 home runs, and posted a 7.4 whiff per nine rate. All solid numbers. So let’s finish off these Red Birds….Hyun-jin style!

Awesome Crawesome is red hot

Crawford has five three-hit games since returning from the DL-David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Carl Crawford is red hot right now. Despite his never ending rustiness, Crawford seems to have found his timing again and since returning from the disabled list has been smoking the ball. It was his line drive hit that struck Shelby Miller on the arm last night, knocking him out of the game and possibly onto the disabled list. I feel bad for Miller, and I hope he’s not injured, but that line drive from Crawford has been what he’s been doing of late. Which is blistering the baseball.

Since returning from the Disabled list, Crawford has five three hits games, and is 7 for 12 in this series. He had four hits last night, and now has his average back up to .293 (82 for 280). We may joke about Crawford’s inability to not get hurt, but when he is healthy and swinging the bat well there may be nobody better. Lots of hits and line drives. He’s also 11 for 15 in stolen bases. I would like to see Crawford stealing more bases, but I am very pleased with the way he is hitting of late. The Dodgers just need to ride out this hot streak until he lands on the disabled list again which should be in about an hour or so. Jokes people! Jokes!

Anyways, the Dodgers are 63-50 and have a five game lead over the Snakes in the division. It would seem like the Dodgers have the advantage and have the Cardinals by the long and curlys. I would like to puff up my Dodger Blue chest and say they have this one in the bag, but I don’t want to count the chickens before they hatch. Knowing our luck I’ll do the puff, and then the Dodgers will get like four hits.  After the game the Dodgers will fly home to begin a home stand against the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Mets.

So no puffing right now. But I do have confidence that the Dodgers will pull this one out tonight.  It’s scary when I have confidence, because I’m such a worry wart. Catch the game tonight at 5:15 PM on Prime ticket. Stick around here after the game as Stacie will have all of the postgame coverage. Who’s in the mood for Bird tacos? Go Blue!