Van Slyke Scores Winning Run on Wild Pitch in The 12th

We knew the Dodgers would have to give us one last extra inning marathon before the regular season ends. Hey you didn’t really have anything to do on Saturday night did you? The Dodgers nearly blew an utterly meaningless game by blowing a two run lead in the later innings. They allowed two solo home runs, one in the 8th and one in the ninth which tied the score. It merely took them 12 innings and four hours to defeat the worst road team in the majors by a 6-5 score. Scott Van Slyke singled and stole a base (he stole two bases tonight two!), and then scored on a wild pitch to give the Dodgers the win in the bottom of the twelfth. Sweep tomorrow!

The Dodgers and Rockies are both playing out the remainder of their regular season schedules with both clubs going in different directions once the season ends on Sunday afternoon. The Dodgers are tuning up for the postseason in which they will host the winner of the NL Central on Friday night to begin the NLDS. Colorado on the other hand will be going home after Sunday as their season will be over. Needless to say these last couple of game are meaningless for both clubs.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Rockies  5 12 1

Dodgers 6 11 0

WP-Frias-1-1

LP-Morales-6-9

HR-Gonzalez-26-McKenry-8-Paulsen-4

While the Rockies are just using these remaining games to look at young prospects for 2015, the Dodgers are just trying not to have anyone get hurt before the playoffs start. The first time that it’s ok for Don Mattingly to start the B-team, he doesn’t do it. I don’t get it. However the majority of the B-team was in the game by the fifth inning.

The Dodgers suffered two minor injuries tonight in their 6-5 win over Colorado. Dee Gordon had to leave the game for precautionary reasons after grounding out in the first inning with what was described as a right hip injury. It’s not expected to be serious, and he is listed as day-to-day. Fortunately he’ll have a week to rest. Hanley Ramirez fouled a ball of of his knee in the third inning, and after he finished his at-bat with a walk, was removed for a pinch-runner. The Dodgers need to not take any chances, and rest all of the regulars on Sunday.

The Dodgers took a 5-2 lead by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Dodgers had five hits, two stolen bases, a throwing error, and a force out to account for the four spot. They jumped out to an early lead when Adrian Gonzalez hit his 26 home run of the season. The blast which landed into the Colorado bullpen gave him 113 RBI on the year. He now leads all of MLB in that category.

Starting pitcher Dan Haren looked pretty sharp in his final tune up before the playoffs. Haren allowed just two earned runs on six hits over five inning, but was unable to get his fourteenth win of the season. The veteran right hander picks up a no-decision and finishes 13-10 in 2014. He whiffed four and walked none while making 78 pitches.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Opposing starter Eddie Butler gave up five runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings. He walked three and didn’t strikeout anyone for the Rockies. Colorado’s offense bailed him out as well. The Dodgers followed up Haren with Jamey Wright, Scott Elbert, Brandon League, Yimi Garcia, Paco Rodriguez, Brian Wilson and Carlos Frias. It was Frias who picked up the win with three scoreless innings.

The Dodgers were down 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when they plated those four runs. In that frame Darwin Barney singled, and was erased at second when Yasiel Puig grounded into a force out. Puig stole second, and then advanced to third when Colorado catcher Michael McKenry (filling in for injured Wilin Rosario) threw the ball into center field. Scott Van Slyke’s run scoring single plated Puig to tie the game. Then Van Slyke himself stole second base. That’s just his second stolen base of the season. Then Matt Kemp doubled in Van Slyke to put the Dodgers ahead 3-2. One out later Andre Ethier’s line drive doub;e down the right field line scored Kemp to make it a 4-2 score. After Justin Turner was intentionally walked, A.J. Ellis singled home Turner, but he was thrown out at third on a great throw from right fielder Kyle Parker.

Colorado tied the game at 1-1 in the fourth inning when they got two ground-rule doubles from Michael Cuddyer and catcher Michael McKenry. The Rockies added single runs in the fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings. Charlie Blackmon doubled, and then former Dodger farmhand Rafael Ynoa singled him in to make the score 5-2 Dodgers.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

In the sixth, with Jamey Wright on the mound, Consecutive singles from McKenry and Parker and then a run scoring single from Culberson makes the score 5-3. In the eighth, McKenry homered off of Yimi Garcia, and in the top of the ninth, it was Paco Rodriguez who allowed a lead-off solo home run to Ben Paulsen that wrapped just inside the right field foul pole.

With the game tied at 5-5, we went into extra innings. The Dodgers won it in the bottom of the twelfth. Franklin Morales allows a one-out single to Van Slyke. Tim Federowicz was hit by a pitch. Then Van Slyke steals third! With Miguel Rojas at the plate, Morales uncorks a wild pitch that scores Van Slyke, and the Dodgers win it!

This will be my final regular season recap of the season. Stacie will cover the finale on Sunday. Have no fear my lovely Lairians because we’ll be brining you all of the postseason coverage starting Friday evening with game 1 of the NLDS. Thank you all for following along with us all season long!

The Dodgers will have Uribe manage the last game with Clayton Kershaw acting as pitching coach so Don Mattingly can take the day off. That should be a hoot! The Dodgers are now 93-68, and ready to finish off the 2014 regular season. Sunday afternoon rookie Christian Bergman will counter Zack Greinke in the regular season finale at 1:10 PM.