Scott Van Slyke Walk-Off Homerun Gives Dodgers Wild Pitch Tuesday Victory

Dodgers 5 7 0

Diamondbacks 3 5 2

WP- Withrow (3-0)

LP- Collmenter (4-3)

HR- Gregorius (7), Van Slyke (7)

F/11

Monday night was Juanderful. The cornucopia of Dodger homeruns was exhilarating. It was extra nice since the Dodgers had just returned home after getting swept in a really tough series against Cincinnati. Also, the six-homerun game was against the second-place Diamondbacks. Arizona, a team which the Dodgers historically have trouble against, was held to only one run on four hits thanks to another excellent start by Ricky Nolasco and 2 1/3 innings of scoreless ball by the Dodger bullpen. The festivities included a homerun from Andre Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez, and three, yes three homeruns by Juan Uribe. Uribe, who was once the ire of Los Angeles and San Francisco alike, has now become the lovable fan favorite after resurrecting his claim to a starting spot on this ball club. Uribe actually collected four hits on the night including an infield single, 4 RBIs, and 4 runs on what could be classified as a career night for the third baseman dubbed “King Kong” by teammate and buddy Hanley Ramirez. Bananas aside, Uribe has been an integral part of this first-place Dodger team in 2013. He will also be key in the postseason as the Dodgers hone in on the western crown.

The night wasn’t just great because of the homerun derby, but it also showcased a dominated Paul Goldschmidt who went 0-for-4 with 3 strikeouts.

Edinson Volquez’s ERA dipped below 6 to 5.99. Progress. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Not only did we enjoy Goldy’s outs, but the Dodgers also knocked out both the Giants and the Rockies in one final swooping and whooping win. With a win against the D-backs on Tuesday evening, the Dodgers could narrow their magic number to 6 (which they later do thanks to a walk-off homerun by Scott Van Slyke).

After a decent Volquez start, the Dodgers and D-backs were locked in a tie from the fifth inning until the bottom of the eleventh inning. With only 5 hits until that glorious SVS pinch-hit two-run homerun off Josh Collmenter, three of the Dodgers hits were off Gonzo’s bat. Gonzalez was already out of the game by the eleventh, but thanks to expanded rosters and a little bit of mustache magic, the Dodgers take the series and close the gap on the division even more. The Dodger bullpen pitched 5 scoreless frames, and Chris Withrow once again shined in his relief duty. A walk to Mark Ellis with one out in the bottom of the eleventh set up the Van Slyke homer. A plethora of wild pitches (3 by Arizona pitching) and 2 D-back errors helped the Dodgers cause as well.

Edinson Volquez sets down Willie Bloomquist on strikes to begin the top of the first. Adam Eaton grounds out, and there’s two down very quickly. Of course Paul Goldschmidt proceeds to hit a line drive double to center field (his 30th on the season). Martin Prado hits a high chopper to third, and last night’s hero Juan Uribe handles it for the third out. Wow, a scoreless frame from Volquez!

Trevor Cahill also begins his first inning with a strikeout as Yasiel Puig goes down swinging. Carl Crawford hits a comebacker for the second out. Hanley Ramirez draws a two-out walk. Adrian Gonzalez singles past a diving Goldschmidt into right field. Andre Ethier flies out to center, and the Dodgers strand two.

Volquez pitches anther scoreless frame in the second. Miguel Montero strikes out (Volquez has now struck out two lead-off hitters in a row). The ball gets away though, and Montero takes first on the wild pitch. Matt Davidson then grounds into a double play which is very nicely executed by Uribe and Mark Ellis to Gonzo at first. Gerardo Parra grounds out to first.

Yasiel Puig steals his 11th base of the season in the second inning. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers take advantage of the flustering Snakes in the bottom half of the second and take a 2-0 lead. Juan Uribe draws a lead-off walk. A.J. lines out sharply to short. With MEllis at bat, a wild pitch by Cahill allows Uribe to take second. Then Mark Ellis singles on a soft loop to right field, and Uribe advances to third. Edinson Volquez reaches on a force attempt when Miguel Montero makes an awful throw which gets away at second. Uribe comes home to score. Another run comes in on a force out hit into by Puig. With Crawford at the plate, Puig steals his 11th base of the season. Montero’s throw is high. CC grounds out to end the inning.

Volquez strikes out another lead-off hitter. Didi Gregorius strikes out to begin the third. Cahill lines out, and Bloomquist grounds out for another nice inning from Volquez as he retires the D-backs 1-2-3.

Adrian Gonzalez tries to stretch a single into a double in the bottom of the third, but Adam Eaton throws him out at second. Why Gonzo was trying to run that one out is beyond me.

Paul Goldschmidt, who is celebrating his 26th birthday, singles to center field in the fourth for his second hit of the night. With Prado at the plate, Volquez uncorks his second wild pitch of the night which allows Goldy to move over to second. Uribe and his magical glove makes a backhand snare to save an extra base hit from going down the line on a line drive hit by Prado. Montero singles past a diving Uribe, and Goldschmidt brings in a run for Arizona. 2-1 Dodgers. Davidson strikes out on a slow curve to end the inning.

The D-backs commit their second error in the home half of the fourth when Gregorius can’t handle a grounder hit by A.J. Ellis. Mark Ellis lines out, and Volquez strikes out. The Dodgers are unable to cash in the Arizona error.

 Volquez walks Parra to open the fifth inning. Didi Gregorius then proceeds to hit a no-doubt-about-it two-run homerun to right field. The D-backs

Neither starting pitcher was involved in the decision. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

take a 3-2 lead. After the homerun, Volquez retires the next three batters easily.

In the bottom of the fifth, Hanley draws a two-out walk after hitting a foul ball off his instep. He goes down momentarily, and the trainers go out to check him. Cahill also walks Gonzo. Andre Ethier, a.k.a. Captain Clutch, doubles to right field (his 32nd double of the season) to tie up the game 3-3! Uribe flies out to center, but the game is all even thanks to Ethier’s RBI double.

Volquez pitches a scoreless sixth thanks to a fine catch by Puig up against the right field wall. Montero’s fly ball was inches away from going out, but Puig reached up and caught it to end the inning and preserve the tie.

Cahill retires the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the sixth.

Edinson Volquez pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk on 80 pitches.

Paco Rodriguez will come out of the Dodger bullpen to relieve Volquez in the seventh. Davidson is struck out on a beautiful slow curve by Paco. Parra grounds out, and Gregorius pops out for a perfect Paco inning.

The Diamondbacks have a new pitcher for the bottom of the seventh as David Hernandez comes in to take over for Cahill. Puig draws a lead-off walk. Crawford whiffs. With HanRam at the plate, Hernandez lets yet another wild pitch loose. That’s the fourth WP of the game collectively for both teams. Puig easily slides into second. Puig moves to third on a groundball to short hit by Hanley. Gonzalez flies out, and Puig is stranded at third. Sigh.

Don Mattingly will bring in Ronald Belisario to pitch the eighth. A.J. Pollack lines out to short. Bloomquist pops out to MEllis. Easton grounds out to short. Good inning by Beli!

Will Harris will pitch the bottom of the eighth for the D-backs, and he sends the Dodgers down 1-2-3.

Scott Van Slyke smashes a pinch-hit walk-off two-run homerun in the bottom of the eleventh. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Cahill pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits with 2 strikeouts and 4 walks on 103 pitches.

Kenley Jansen comes in for the ninth in order to try to safeguard the tie. Birthday boy Goldschmidt grounds out. Prado singles. Montero strikes out swinging. Davidson is blown away by Jansen to end the inning. That’s Davidson’s third whiff of the night.

Harris remains in for the bottom of the ninth for the Snakes. Mark Ellis pops out to shallow to second. Skip Schumaker comes off the bench and grounds out to first. Puig strikes out, and we head to extra innings.

J.P. Howell will come in to pitch the tenth. Howell retires Parra and Gregorius. Mattingly will bring in Chris Withrow to pitch to right-handed pinch-hitter Will Nieves.  Withrow only needs to pitches to induce a fly out to end the frame.

Josh Collmenter is the fourth pitcher of the night for AZ. Crawford promptly pops out to Gregorius. Hanley pops out. Are you seeing a pattern here? Gonzo manages a single to right which is only the fifth Dodger hit of the night. Three of those are from Gonzo. After Dre is already two pitches in, Donnie finally brings in Dee to pinch-run for Gonzo. Dee promptly steals second just under the throw. The D-backs will then intentionally walk Ethier with first base open. That brings up Uribe who is 0-for-3 on the night with a walk. Yet another wild pitch allows Dee to scurry over to third and Dre to second.  Collmenter rears back and strikes out Uribe, and the Dodgers strand the winning run at third.

Withrow pitches a perfect eleventh inning. He strikes out Goldschmidt for good measure.

A.J. Ellis hits a fly ball to the gap, but Eaton makes a good catch to save an extra base hit in the bottom of the eleventh. Mark Ellis singles down the right field line with one out. Then with few choices left off the bench, Donnie calls on Scott Van Slyke. Scotty takes a Collmenter pitch deep to left field, and the Dodgers walk-off with the win!

The *Magic Number is 6*.

The Dodgers improve to 85-59 on the season. Tomorrow they will go for the sweep versus Arizona and try to pull closer to that beautiful N.L. West Division crown.

Hyun-jin Ryu is scheduled to start game three on Wednesday night. He has been battling some mild back stiffness, but he should be good to go. The Snakes will counter with Patrick Corbin.