Beckett Returns To Face Anibal Sanchez, Dodgers Go For Sweep
By Scott Andes
Dodgers Lineup vs. Detroit-4-9-14
Dee GordonCarl CrawfordHanley RamirezAdrian GonzalezAndre EthierMatt KempJuan UribeTim FederowiczJosh BeckettAnibal Sanchez-0-0 vs. Josh Beckett-0-0
Last night’s 3-2 ten inning Dodger walk-off win was important for the club’s moral. Not because it was the first walk-off win of the 2014 season for our beloved boys in blue, but more because it helps us and the club forget about the frustrating opening series loss to the Giants. This interleague win takes us further and further away from that annoying series.
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
So the Dodgers just need to take another baby step forward and win tonight to sweep the short two-game series. This game will also conclude the opening home stand as the club will embark upon a six game road trip that has them going to Arizona, and San Francisco before the club returns home on April 18.
There were so many little things in last night’s win that helped the Dodgers. Dee Gordon led off the game with a solo home run against Max Scherzer. Dee Gordon! Not a joke, he really hit it out. Right over the right field fence.
So that was important, and so was Kenley Jansen coming down with an ugly case of the Jonathon Broxtons’ by blowing the save with two outs in the ninth. Although he did blow away Miguel Cabrera with some 99 mph heaters. Victor Martinez’s RBI single to center scored Ian Kinsler to tie the game. We also can’t forget Austin Jackson’s poor throw to the plate in the seventh allowing Kemp to score on Justin Turner’s shallow sacrifice pop fly to center.
But even more important was Chone Figgins lead-off walk in the bottom of the tenth. Does this guy ever swing the bat? All he does is walk. That was fine, as Carl Crawford’s base hit was misplayed by Rajai Davis, who dove for it, and fell down, which meant the ball rolled all the way to the wall, and Figgins scored and that was it. Let’s not forget another solid outing from Dan Haren, who limited the powerful Detroit lineup to just three hits in six frames.
Tonight the Dodger’s task won’t get any easier, as they’ll have to face power pitcher Anibal Sanchez. The Dodgers will be countering with veteran Josh Beckett, who is coming off of the disabled list.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Dodgers haven’t faced Sanchez since April of 2011, when he was still with the Marlins. He’s made four starts against the Dodgers, and is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 23 frames. He’s only pitched one game at Dodger Stadium, in which he threw six shutout frames, allowing three hits, and whiffing four. Remember Sanchez was traded with Hanley from the Red Sox to the Marlins back in 2005. So him and Hanley have a strange connection to the past. I guess. Sanchez only lasted four frames in his last outing against Baltimore. In that start he gave up two earned runs and three walks.
Only six current Dodgers have ever faced him in 32 total at-bats. The club is batting .188 against Sanchez with no home runs.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
8
8
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.125
.125
.125
7
5
2
0
0
0
1
2
2
.400
.571
.400
6
6
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.167
.167
.167
5
4
1
0
0
0
0
1
2
.250
.400
.250
5
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
4
4
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
.250
.250
.250
Total
35
32
6
0
0
0
2
3
4
.188
.257
.188
Josh Beckett will make his return from the disabled list tonight. He had been rehabbing down in Rancho, trying to heal from a thumb injury, after he slammed his thumb in a clubhouse door during spring training. The veteran has plenty of experience against the Tigers from his American League days with the Red Sox.
In nine starts versus Detroit, Beckett has posted a 3-4 record, and a 3.83 ERA in 54 frames thrown. The Tigers have hit Beckett well though, at least this current group of Tigers. Detroit is batting .276 (32 for 116) with five home runs, and 18 runs driven in. Torii Hunter is batting .321(9 for 28) against Beckett with a home run. However he’s doubtful for tonight after sliding and crashing into the low right field wall at Dodger Stadium last night chasing down a fly ball. Martinez has hit him well too, to a tune of .318 (7 for 22) with a home run and four driven in. But Miguel Cabrera is hitting just .211 (4 for 19) but he does have two home runs off of Beckett.
PA
AB
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
BA
OBP
SLG
31
28
9
1
0
1
4
2
5
.321
.355
.464
24
22
7
0
0
1
4
2
5
.318
.375
.455
21
19
4
0
0
2
6
2
3
.211
.286
.526
20
17
3
2
0
0
2
2
4
.176
.300
.294
11
10
4
1
0
1
2
1
2
.400
.455
.800
11
7
2
1
0
0
0
3
4
.286
.545
.429
6
6
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
.167
.167
.167
4
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
.500
.500
.500
3
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
.000
.000
.000
Total
131
116
32
5
0
5
18
12
23
.276
.351
.448
In case you were wondering, the Dodgers will be optioning Jose Dominguez to make room for Beckett. You can watch the game on SportsnetLA at 7:10 PM. We’ll be back here afterwards to give you our recap of the game. Let’s keep those Tigers declawed for one more night. Go Blue!