Greinke Helps Dodgers Secure 10,000th Win

Dodgers 6 12 0

Twins 4 12 1

WP- Greinke (5-0)

LP- Gibson (3-2)

S- Jansen (10)

The Dodgers were bundled up, but their bats were not frozen this time as they defeated the Twins and secured a historic 10,000th franchise win. Zack Greinke improved to 5-0 on the season, and the ace was melting away outs in the solid start at Target Field. Greinke looks to be in Cy Young form this season, and with Clayton Kershaw finishing up what should be his final rehab tune-up in Chattanooga on Wednesday night, the Dodgers will regain their 1-2 punch of double duty ace power when Kersh returns to the rotation next week.

Apr 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) warms up his hands during the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers collectively had a dozen hits on the night, and even Drew Butera contributed with two singles. Perhaps it was the news of Tim Federowicz‘s demotion before the game which spurred Butera to you know, hit? Nevertheless the Dodgers lineup all contributed with the exception of the struggling Carl Crawford who was the only starter to go hitless. Hanley and Gonzo each had RBI singles in the third. The Dodgers plated three runs in the seventh thanks to a RBI double by Ethier and a two-run single by Uribe. They added an insurance run in the eighth on a Puig RBI single as well.

The Twins scored first in the second due to a passed ball by Butera and a double by Escobar. The Minnesota shortstop had 4 hits on the night and drove in 2 runs for the Twins. The Dodgers’ bullpen looked shaky again in the bottom of the ninth, and Paco Rodriguez was charged with 3 runs in the frame before Mattingly was forced to use Jansen to secure the final out. Even though the two lefties, Paco and J.P., had issues tonight, it was a good sign for Brian Wilson after he pitched a scoreless frame in the eighth and handed down two strikeouts.

Dee Gordon, wearing a full face warmer, grounds out to first to lead-off the first inning at Target Field. Yasiel Puig also grounds out against Kyle Gibson. Hanley Ramirez also grounds out, and the Dodgers go down quickly in order. Gibson only needed 6 pitches to retire the side on 3 groundballs.

With one out in the bottom of the first, Dee misreads a grounder hit by Joe Mauer as the ball bounces off his glove for a single. Trevor Plouffe strikes out swinging. Greinke walks Chris Colabello after a eight-pitch at-bat. Jason Kubel flies out to left field to end the inning, but Greinke made 25 pitches in the inning.

In the top of the second, the Dodgers waste a lead-off double from Adrian Gonzalez. The Dodgers strand Gonzo at third base as Matt Kemp grounds out, Ethier strikes out, and Uribe grounds out.

Josmil Pinto leads off the home half of the second with a single up the middle. With Kurt Suzuki at-bat, a passed ball by Drew Butera allows Pinto to take second. Kurt Suzuki lines out to Gordon who makes a nice snag. Sam Fuld pops out to Hanley Ramirez. Eduardo Escobar doubles off the center field wall, and the Twins take a 1-0 lead as Pinto comes in to score. Escobar is mowed down at third base by Kemp trying to leg out a triple.

In the third, Drew Butera singles and Crawford’s grounder moves him over to second. Gordon flies out. Gibson walks Puig with two out. Hanley pokes a single to left field, and Butera is waved home. He just slides by Suzuki’s tag! The Twins challenge the call, but after the review the call stands. 1-1 tie. Gonzalez’s RBI single brings home the Dodgers’ second run of the inning as they take a 2-1 lead. Matt Kemp draws a walk, and that spurs a coaching visit to the mound to try to calm Gibson down. Bases are loaded for the Dodgers with two out. Ethier bloops what looks like a base hit to left field, but Kubel makes a sliding catch to end the inning a rob Dre of a base hit.

Greinke whiffs Brian Dozier with a sweet changeup to begin the bottom of the third. Mauer then proceeds to smack a stand-up double to

Apr 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Andre Ethier (16) and center fielder Matt Kemp (27) celebrate after scoring runs in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

the left field corner. Plouffe strikes out for the second time against Greinke. Colabello grounds out to end the inning.

Butera comes up with his second single of the game with one out in the fourth. Gordon flusters Escobar who makes a bad throw to first and draws an error. Puig grounds out to end the inning, and the Dodgers strand their two runners.

Pinto singles on a ball hit to deep short with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but the Twins don’t do much else.

Matt Kemp draws a two-out walk in the top of the fifth, and Andre Ethier singles to right field. Uribe grounds out, and the Dodgers strand another two runners.

Escobar leads off the bottom of the fifth with a single to left field. Greinke strikes out Mauer. Plouffe lines to CC in left who makes a nice running catch.

The Dodgers go down in order in the sixth.

The Twins also go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, and Greinke has retired 6 batters in a row.

Puig leads off the seventh with a single to left, and Matt Kemp also singles but with two out. Ethier flares a double to left field, and Puig comes in to score giving the Dodgers a 3-1 lead! That’s going to be all for Kyle Gibson. Michael Tonkin will take over for Gibson. The first pitch Uribe sees he smacks a single up the right field line, and two runs score! 5-1 Dodgers. It’s a three-run inning for the Boys in Blue,

Kyle Gibson pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 9 hits with 2 strikeouts and 3 walks on 101 pitches.

Apr 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson (44) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Suzuki air mails a lead-off double to center field as Matt Kemp hits the ground in the catch attempt. Don Mattingly will take the slow walk to the mound to get Greinke. J.P. Howell will come out of the Dodgers bullpen. Howell whiffs Fuld. Escobar comes up with his third hit of the night, a single. Suzuki advances to third. Howell rears back to strike out Dozier. Howell walks Mauer to load the bases up. The Dodgers go to the bullpen again, and they’ll bring in Chris Withrow to face Plouffe. After going 3-0 to Plouffe, Withrow induces a pop out to Hanley to end the threat!

Zack Greinke pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run on 7 hits with 6 strikeouts and a walk on a season high 110 pitches.

Brian Duensing will pitch the eighth for the Twins. Crawford flies out, and he goes 0-for-4 on the night. Crawford’s average has plummeted to .194. Gordon doubles to left field, and the speedy infielder then scores on a single by Puig which is too hot to handle for Escobar. 6-1 Dodgers.

Brian Wilson comes out of the Dodgers bullpen for the bottom of the eighth and pitches a very nice 1-2-3 inning while striking out two. Very good sign for Wilson.

Anthony Swarzak is the fourth pitcher of the night for the Twins. Ethier draws a walk, and he finishes off a good night as the DH with 2 hits, a run, a RBI, and a walk. The Dodgers don’t do much else in the inning, and we go to the bottom of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Paco Rodriguez has a tough inning in his first game since being called up from Albuquerque. Fuld doubles with

Apr 30, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) looks on during the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

one out, and Escobar comes up with his fourth hit of the night which brings in the second run of the night for the Twins. Dozier follows with a single, and Rick Honeycutt goes out to the mound to talk to Paco. After going 3-2 to Mauer, he wins the battle by striking him out. Mattingly will now bring in Kenley Jansen to get the final out against Plouffe. On a 11-pitch at-bat, Plouffe wins the battle and doubles in two runs for Minnesota. 6-4 Dodgers. The Dodgers hang on to win it as the last out is recorded as Hanley takes care of a grounder by Colabello.

The Dodgers improve to 15-12 on the season and collect their 10,000th franchise win! Dan Haren will counter Mike Pelfrey in Game 1 of the doubleheader starting at 10:10 a.m. PT on Thursday morning.