Five Game Lead in the West: Kevin Correia Gets First Dodger Win

The Dodgers picked up a half game in the west after defeating the Atlanta Braves behind a solid Dodger debut from the newly acquired Kevin Correia. Correia was better than I expected, and he only allowed 1 run on 4 hits through 6 innings of work. His true forte was evident after inducing 10 groundouts. With Miguel Rojas behind him at short, the groundout pitcher was backed up well.

The only Atlanta run came in the fourth on singles from Bonifacio and Justin Upton.

The Dodger scored thrice in the sixth off five singles and a scoring groundball by Justin Turner.

The Braves helped the Dodgers out after a very flustery eighth inning which was really painful to watch. Two wild pitches, a passed ball and an error led to three Dodger runs. Carl Crawford had a big night with 3 hits and 2 RBI. Correia even helped his own cause with two base hits. Watch out Zack Greinke, the Dodgers may have a new Silver Slugger in town.

Dodgers 6 11 0

Braves 2 6 1

WP- Correia (6-13)

LP- Teheran (10-9)

Julio Teheran retires the Dodgers’ top of the order with three fly outs in the top of the first.

Kevin Correia, the newest Dodger, also pitches a 1-2-3 inning in the home half of the first. Welcome to the Blue, Kevin!

Carl Crawford singles to right field with one out in the top of the second. There’s an injury delay, and second baseman Tommy La Stella has to come out of the game with an injured leg.  Emilio Bonifacio moves over to second, and Ramiro Pena will take over at shortstop for the Braves. With Justin Turner at the plate, Teheran picks off Crawford at first base. Turner ends up striking out.

Miguel Rojas makes another dazzling defensive play as he climbs the ladder to rob Justin Upton of a base hit in the bottom of the second. Correia strikes out both Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis for another perfect inning.

Kevin Correia bloops a single to left field with two outs in the third. That’s just his second hit of the season, but the Dodgers are

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) shakes hands with manager Don Mattingly (8) Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

retired by Teheran without much of a fight in the frame.

Correia starts off the bottom of the third by striking out Chris Johnson. Correia induces two groundouts to third base after, and he has now retired all nine batters he has faced thus far.

Yasiel Puig leads off the top of the fourth with a single to left, but Teheran picks him off first base. Teheran has been moving his left leg with that move to first, but the umpires have not called a balk on it. Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp both fly out.

The Braves finally get a hit off Correia in the bottom of the fourth and cash it in. Emilio Bonifacio singles to center. Pena lays down the sacrifice bunt, and Bonifacio advances to second. Freddie Freeman draws a walk. Justin Upton’s hard single to center brings home Bonifacio, and the Braves take a 1-0 lead.

A.J. Ellis draws a two-out walk from Teheran in the top of the fifth, but Teheran rears back to strike out Rojas.

In the bottom of the fifth, B.J. Upton bunts for a single, but Correia is able to induce another two groundouts to finish off the scoreless inning.

The Dodgers score twice on five singles in the sixth. Correia comes up with his second hit of the game, a single to center in the sixth. Dee Gordon singles to right. Yasiel Puig singles to left, and the Dodgers now have the bases loaded with nobody out.  Adrian Gonzalez singles to right, the fourth consecutive single for the Dodgers, and Correia brings in the tying run. Kemp pops out to short. Crawford legs out an infield single allowing Dee to score, and Puig scores on a Turner groundout. The Dodgers take a 3-1 lead.

Freeman hits a ground-rule double with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Correia, the ground ball king, gets Upton and Heyward on you guessed it… ground balls.

Teheran settles down and pitches a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh. Darwin Barney makes his Dodger debut as a pinch-hitter for Kevin Correia, but he is robbed of a hit by a great diving stop from Freeman.

Kevin Correia pitched 6 innings and allowed 1 run on 4 hits with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk on 82 pitches.

Brian Wilson will come in to relieve Correia in the bottom of the seventh, and he shuts down the Tomahawk choppers in order

with a little help from Justin Turner who makes a nice catch in foul ground for the first out.

Aug 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Kevin Correia pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Teheran walks Yasiel Puig to start off the eighth inning in Atlanta. Gonzo strikes out. Matt Kemp hits a ground-rule double over the left field fence. The Braves will make a pitching change with runners at second and third and one out. James Russell, the left-hander, will come in to face Carl Crawford. CC comes up clutch with a RBI single to center. Dodgers lead 4-1. That’s Crawford’s third base hit of the game. The Braves will go to the bullpen again, and Juan Jaime will be the next pitcher. Jaime walks Turner, and the Dodgers have the bases loaded again. The Dodgers get a huge break as Pena throws an errant throw to first on a routine double play ball. Two runs come in for the Dodgers, and they take a commanding 6-1 lead. Jaime than whirls out a wild pitch with Rojas at the plate, and A.J. advances to second. Rojas then reaches safely on a strikeout and passed ball by catcher Evan Gattis. The Braves have totally unraveled in the inning. The Atlanta meltdown continues as Ethier walks to load the bases again. The inning finally ends as Gordon grounds into a force out, but the Dodgers tally three runs.

Julio Teheran pitched 7 1/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 9 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks on 107 pitches.

Jamey Wright will pitch the bottom of the eighth inning for the Dodgers. Wright strikes out Ryan Doumit. Bonifacio strikes out. Pena strikes out.

Anthony Varvaro comes in to pitch the top of the ninth for the Braves. Puig flies out. Gonzo rips a one-out single to center. Matt Kemp hits into a double play, and the Braves are down to their last three outs.

Carlos Friars will get the ball in the bottom of the ninth. Freeman singles to right. Upton strikes out. Heyward pops out to Gonzo at first. Freeman advances to second on offensive indifference. Evan Gattis keeps the game alive with a RBI double to the gap. Chris Johnson strikes out on a check swing. Dodgers win 6-2.

The Dodgers improve to 68-52 on the season, and they pick up a half game on the idle Giants. They now lead the NL West by five games. Tuesday Dan Haren will counter Mike Minor in Game 2 at Turner Field.