So What Can The Incredible Dodgers Do For An Encore In Game Two?

Dodgers Lineup vs. Tampa Bay

Roberto Hernandez-6-11 vs. Zack Greinke-9-3

Few words can describe the joy that I felt after watching the Dodgers stunning four run ninth inning comeback 7-6 victory over the Rays last night. According to the numbers, the glorious win last night was only the ninth time ever the Los Angeles Dodgers have comeback from a deficit  (six runs or greater) that large to win a game, and the fourth time in history the club was down by six runs in the seventh inning  or later of a game and won. What else can you say about this team? They are simply incredible.

It was almost like the Dodgers were toying with us for seven innings. After the sloppy defense, which included an error by Punto and two misplayed fly balls, it looked like the Boys in Blue were toast. Even after they had another runner thrown out at home plate, they still won anyways. The first six innings were like a buffet of grounders and pop-ups. The Dodgers won anyways. That’s what they do now. Hairston said it best when he said that they feel like they can win every night. Indeed they can.

What do you think they’re talking about here?-Gif from Kenny Shulsen

Poor Loney. Poor underappreciated James Loney, He gets three hits in his home coming game and gets a loss. Nobody knows the woes of Loney.

By the way, a big hearty great job goes out to the bench guys. I’ve poked fun of those guys a lot, but these are the guys that are the glue that holds the team together. Nick Punto, Jerry Hairston, and Skip Schumaker have all played tremendously well, no matter how many jokes we make.  Punto, and Schumaker each had two hits last night, and both got hits in that ninth inning. Hairston had two walks and scored the winning run. Seriously, Nick, Jerry, and Skip. Thank you. From me and every Dodger fan out there. Keep up the great work. We appreciate your efforts more than you know.

"The Magic is here even at home! ~Vin Scully"

Thank goodness we didn’t have to watch Fernando Rodney’s lame arrow schtik. I mean it’s such schtik. Every time he gets a save he points at the sky with his arms in a motion like he is shooting an arrow. It’s corny. Very corny. There were no arrows shot last night. Actually I can’t prove it, but I think Rodney threw that grounder into center on purpose. Not like on purpose purpose, but I think he was frustrated, obviously for blowing a three run lead and then made a flustered induced throw that sailed wide into second field. The game had everything. There was even a crazy rundown at the plate.

Greinke is looking for win number 101-Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

Another pat on the back goes to Brandon League. Yes it was league who pitched two scoreless frames last night. Two important frames when we all that the game was over. I think there is hope for League. And to put the cherry on top of the victory sundae, Hanley Ramirez pinch-hit last night and could be very close to coming back. He may even be playing tonight if he’s feeling up to it, according to Don Mattingly last night. It was almost impossible to cover that game in any conventional sort of way. Dodger fans were like the tenth man last night, the atmosphere was electrifying. And of course kudos to Don Mattingly for taking out Carlos Marmol before he could cause any real damage and bringing in Ronald Belisario to bail him out. Man if the Dodgers win the World Series it should cancel out those two disgusting Giant championships we had to gag our way through the last three seasons. With the win, the Dodgers stay 5.5 games up on Arizona in the NL West. What a team!

So what could the Dodgers possibly do for an encore tonight? Well they’ll give the ball to Zack Greinke, while Tampa Bay will counter with Roberto Hernandez.

Isn’t this Faustino Carmona?-Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

I have to admit, I don’t know anything about the Tampa Bay Rays. I don’t follow them, and they’re in the other league. Sure there’s a Loney here, a Zobrist there, a Sean Rodriguez, and David Price. Evan Longoria is good. Their home field has astro turf. They play in Tampa Bay. They used to be a sting ray, until they took out the Devil in Devil Rays. Some hard hitting analysis over here guys.

I joke I joke, but Hernandez is actually formerly Faustino Carmona who used to play for the Indians. Hernandez has had a tough year, posting a 6-11 record and a 4.75 ERA with 93 whiffs and 28 walks in 21 starts. He allows 9.7 hits per nine innings which is high. His best days seem like they are behind him. Hernandez has never faced the Dodgers, but some of the guys have faced him when they were in the American League. Punto is hitting .400 against the right hander, and Uribe has hit .364 with a pair of homers. Check out what everyone else has done against Carmona, or Hernandez, or whatever is name is today.

PA

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

Nick Punto

23

20

8

2

0

0

2

3

1

.400

.478

.500

21

19

4

1

1

0

3

1

5

.211

.286

.368

20

19

5

1

0

0

1

1

5

.263

.300

.316

14

11

4

2

0

2

7

1

0

.364

.385

1.091

7

6

1

1

0

0

1

1

0

.167

.286

.333

Jerry Hairston

7

6

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

.167

.286

.333

Hanley Ramirez

3

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

.333

.333

.333

Total

95

84

24

8

1

2

14

7

12

.286

.351

.476

The Dodgers will be countering with Zack Greinke. Our Birdman is coming off of a good start against St.Louis in which he limited the Cardinals to two runs through seven frames. Greinke won his 100game of his career so he’ll be looking for win number 101 against the Rays.

Greinke is very hard to beat at home, at Dodger Stadium, he is 6-1 with a 2.47 ERA. Greinke has faced the Rays 14 times and is 2-6 with a 3.70 ERA. He has 88 whiffs and 17 walks versus Tampa Bay. How have the Rays hit against Greinke you may ask? And you may. Looks like a .229 (27 for 118), although with six home runs allowed.

PA

AB

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI

BB

SO

BA

OBP

SLG

21

20

4

0

1

0

0

1

8

.200

.238

.300

Evan Longoria

19

19

3

0

0

1

1

0

2

.158

.158

.316

18

15

6

1

0

1

4

2

6

.400

.500

.667

16

14

1

1

0

0

0

2

4

.071

.188

.143

10

8

4

1

0

1

3

2

2

.500

.600

1.000

James Loney

9

8

2

0

0

1

1

1

2

.250

.333

.625

Sean Rodriguez

9

9

3

0

0

0

0

0

3

.333

.333

.333

9

7

2

0

0

2

2

2

2

.286

.444

1.143

4

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

.000

.000

.000

3

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

.333

.333

.333

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

3

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

.000

.000

.000

3

3

1

0

0

0

0

0

2

.333

.333

.333

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

.000

.000

.000

Total

129

118

27

3

1

6

11

10

35

.229

.295

.424

Minor notes

The Dodger bullpen has been spectacular. I already mentioned League and Belisario doing their thing, but before last night’s game, since the all-star break the Dodger bullpen leads the majors with a .179 opponents batting average against, and ranks second in the NL with a 1.97 ERA. (that’s 13 ER in 59.1 IP)

The Dodgers are now 8-6 in interleague play this season and have a chance of posting a winning record against the American League since they went 10-8 in 2004.

The Dodgers are 65-50 on the season and a season high 15 games above .500

You can catch the game on Fox today, and then cruise on over here to catch our little game recap that Stacie will be providing after the game. It’s all happening guys. Go Blue!