Dodgers Get a Big “A” in 7-0 Shutout Over Halos

In one of the most satisfying Dodger games of the season, the Boys in Blue absolutely dominated the Angels in Anaheim and took three of four in the series on Thursday night. The Angels only mustered two measly hits all night against Ryu: a double by Freese in the fifth and a double by Pujols in the sixth. That’s it. Nothing more.

Miguel Rojas was dynamite at shortstop, and he made quite a few defensive plays which robbed the Angels of hits and potential runs. Rojas even had two hits himself with a RBI single in the ninth. Even though I’m a staunch designated hitter hater, I actually saw the merit in the DH tonight as Rojas made sweeping plays in the field and Hanley was collecting three hits and two RBI at the plate. The Dodgers will have the DH to their advantage come October since the American League has home field advantage in the

Happy birthday, Mike Trout from all the Dodger fans!

world series. Four star outfielders on the roster may give them the edge.

Yasiel Puig made a web gem of a catch in center field, and that pretty much cemented his position in center for the rest of the season. It was beautiful.

The Dodgers’ offense came through tonight as well, and they even came up with a clutch hit with the bases loaded. How about that? They really poured it on the Angels, and I enjoyed every moment. Ryu was dominating, Rojas was defending, Puig was Puiging… it was a good time. It happened to be Mike Trout‘s birthday, and the golden boy only managed a walk off Pedro Baez in the ninth. No birthday homerun for you!

 Dodgers 7 13 0

Angels 0 2 1

WP- Ryu (13-5)

LP- Wilson (8-8)

Yasiel Puig singles in the first, but Justin Turner and Adrian Gonzalez both strike out against C.J. Wilson. Hanley Ramirez grounds out to end the inning.

Ryu quickly disposes of Erick Aybar, Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in the home half of the first.

The Dodgers squander a perfect scoring opportunity in the top of the second. Matt Kemp leads off with a single, and he advances to second on a C.J. Wilson wild pitch. Wilson then hits Scott Van Slyke in the back of the thigh with a pitch, and the Dodgers have two on and nobody out. Juan Uribe grounds into the dreaded double play, and Matt Kemp moves to third. A.J. Ellis flies out to Ellis in center to end the inning.

Hyun-jin Ryu pitches another great inning in the second, and he has now retired six Angels in a row.

In the third, Justin Turner draws a one-out walk. Yasiel Puig singles on a grounder to Howie Kendrick who can’t handle the ball in time to get Puig out at first. Adrian Gonzalez draws the second walk of the inning from C.J. Wilson to load the bases up with one out. Then the rarest of the rare occurs… a loaded bases clutch hit from Hanley Ramirez! HanRam hits a line drive single to center field, and two runs are cashed in. Gonzo tags up and scores on a sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp. Hanley Ramirez is tagged out at second to end the inning on the play, but the Dodgers take a 3-0 lead.

Miguel Rojas flashes the leather in the bottom of the third as he robs Chris Iannetta of a base hit with a great play at short. C.J. Cron grounds out, and A.J. Ellis handles this one. Ryu hits Collin Cowgill with a pitch, and the home plate umpire Brian Knight issues warnings. Rojas makes another fine defensive play to retire Erick Aybar which ends the scoreless frame.

C.J. Wilson settles down, and he retires the side in order in the top of the fourth.

Aug 7, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (99) throws in the first inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Ryu blows Mike Trout away on a 94-mph fastball to open the bottom of the fourth. Happy Birthday, Mike! Albert Pujols lines one to third, but Uribe climbs the ladder to make a dazzling catch! Ryu rears back to strike out Josh Hamilton, and he has yet to allow an Angel hit.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Angels finally manage to get a hit off Ryu. David Freese doubles to center to break up the no-hitter. No worries, Ryu retires Iannetta and Cron to end the inning.

The Dodgers tack on another run in the top of the sixth and chase C.J. Wilson from the game. Matt Kemp draws a one-out walk. SVS flies out. Juan Uribe doubles to center field, and Kemp scores giving the Dodgers a 4-0 lead. A.J. Elis walks thereafter spurring a pitching change from Mike Scioscia. Cory Rasmus comes in to relieve Wilson, and he induces an inning ending pop-out from Rojas.

C.J. Wilson pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks on 100 pitches.

Miguel Rojas once again erases an Angel base hit with his glove in the bottom of the sixth on a challenged play. Collin Cowgill grounds out to Rojas who makes a fantastic throw from deep at short. The safe call is overturned after Mattingly challenges. Aybar draws a one-out walk, and Pujols doubles to the left field corner giving the Angels runners at second and third with one out. Van Slyke dropped the ball before throwing, but no error was charged. Then Josh Hamilton gives a Ryu fastball a ride to deep center field, but Yasiel Puig makes an amazing catch at the wall to preserve the shutout! He’s incredible in center field.

In the seventh, the Dodgers threaten with two outs. Gonzo singles, and Hanley Ramirez doubles to center. Rasmus intentionally walks Kemp to load the bases up again for the Dodgers.

will pinch-hit for SVS. This time the Dodgers can’t come up with the clutch hit as CC goes down on strikes.

Ryu is pitching brilliantly tonight, and he sends the Angels down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

A.J. Ellis and Miguel Rojas his back-to-back singles off Rasmus with one out in the eighth. Justin Turner walks, and the Dodgers once again have loaded the bases. Cam Bedrosian will come out of the Angels’ bullpen to face Puig. Puig ends up striking out. Gonzo comes up with a RBI single to left field, and two runs come in to score! Hanley beats out Kendrick’s throw on a groundball to second, and the bases are loaded for Matt Kemp. Kemp strikes out to end the rally and is ejected for arguing with the ump, but not before the Dodgers take a commanding 6-0 lead.

Jamey Wright will take over for Ryu in the bottom of the eighth. Wright induces three groundouts, and the Angels go down in

Aug 7, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) in the dugout after scoring a run in the eighth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

order. Mike Scioscia will challenge the final groundout by Aybar which Rojas handled. The call is upheld after the video review, and we go to the ninth inning.

Hyun-jin Ryu pitched 7 innings and allowed just 2 hits with 4 strikeouts and a walk on 100 pitches.

The Dodgers tack on another run in the ninth. Carl Crawford reaches safely on a high soaring throwing error by David Freese. Uribe and Ellis strikeout consecutively. Miguel Rojas proceeds to drive in Crawford on a long single to right, and the Dodgers lead 7-0.

Pedro Baez will get the ball in the bottom of the ninth. Baez is bringing the heat with fastballs upward of 99 mph against birthday boy Mike Trout. Baez throws it away for ball four. Pujols hits it to the vacuum a.k.a. Rojas, and the double play erases the lead-off walk. Josh Hamilton strikes out, and the Dodgers win!

The Dodgers improve to 66-50, and they extend their lead over the Giants to 3 1/2 games. Roberto Hernandez will make his Dodger debut on Friday evening in Milwaukee and will face Kyle Lohse.