Los Angeles Dodgers Game Recaps: Offense, Bullpen Hurt The Giants, Embattled Dodgers Win Opener

The Dodgers were dealt another blow discovering that starter Brandon McCarthy has a torn UCL and will likely require Tommy John surgery. McCarthy will have to miss the rest of the season. The Dodgers also lost Carl Crawford who had to leave the game with a sore side suffered while sliding into third after a triple. You know what lifts the spirits after dealing with all of these injuries? Beating the Giants of course. The Dodgers downed the Giants 8-3 at Dodger Stadium on Monday night. The Boys in Blue scored four runs in third and never relinquished the lead after that.

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The deciding blow was delivered on Justin Turner’s three-run pinch-hit home run off of Yusmeiro Petit in the eighth inning. The Dodgers also got an RBI double, and a solo home run from Joc Pederson. The youngster also made a huge play on Angel Pagan’s deep drive to center in the first inning. Joc was able to double up Aoki at first. There were several solid defensive plays made in the game, including two double plays from each team in the first inning. The Giants got a huge stop from Buster Posey (playing first base) on Andre Ethier’s line drive.

Giants     3 7 1

Dodgers 8 11 0

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Once again the offense and bullpen bailed out another lackluster Brett Anderson start. Anderson couldn’t get the last out in the top of the fifth inning, as the Giants clawed their way back into the game. Anderson finished with three earned runs on five hits through 4.2 frames with three strikeouts. He was not involved in the decision.

Touch em all Turner-Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Anderson’s mound opponent dork Tim Lincecum got knocked around, and gave up four runs on eight hits in four innings. The Dodgers got fine bullpen work from Carlos Frias, Adam Liberatore, Yimi Garcia, and Chris Hatcher to get through the rest of the game. The Dodger bullpen allowed just one hit after the sixth inning.

Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Juan Uribe, and Joc Pederson all had two hits each. The Dodgers were 5 for 11 with runners in scoring position, after being 1 for 15 on the road.

In the top of the first, Aoki leads-off beating out an infield single. After Joe Panik flies to center, Pagan’s deep drive to center sends Pederson to the track to make the catch. Joc makes a terrific over the shoulder catch and fires the ball back to the infield to double up Aoki. Big league play from Joc!

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The Dodgers have the tables turned on them in the bottom of the first. After Rollins walks, Posey makes a diving stop on Ethier’s line drive to rob the Dodgers of scoring. Gonzalez and Kendrick single, but Grandal is retired to end the inning.

Anderson gives up a one-out double to Justin Maxwell in the second inning, but whiffs Susac and McGehee to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the second, The Dodgers get a lead-off triple from Crawford but waste it. Crawford has to leave the game after the inning with a sore side. Uribe walks, but Pederson pops out. Anderson’s sacrifice advances Uribe to third, but Rollins is robbed of a hit on a great diving catch from Maxwell in right. 

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The Dodgers jump all over Lincecum for four runs in the third. The Giants would never recover. Ethier walks. Gonzalez singles through the shift. Kendrick’s RBI single scores Ethier and sends Gonzo to third. While Grandal whiffs, Kendrick steals second, and is safe because Susac’s throw is wide. The throwing error allows Gonzo to walk home, and the Dodgers lead 2-0!

You the man Joc!-Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Van Slyke, playing in place of Crawford singles Kendrick to third. Uribe’s ground ball single scores Kendrick to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Pederson immediately doubles off the wall in right to score Van Slyke and the Dodgers are up 4-0.

The Giants go down 123 in the top of the fourth, and the Dodgers do the same. The fifth inning becomes problematic when Anderson can’t get the last out.  He gets Susac and McGehee to ground out, and everything looks fine. Then Brandon Crawford walks. Pinch-hitter Hector Sanchez singles to left. Aoki’s pesky ground ball single trickles into center to score Crawford, and it’s 4-1 Dodgers. Then Panik doubles to right. Sanchez scores and now it’s 4-2.

Don Mattingly hooks Anderson and brings in just called up Carlos Frias. The Dodgers needed someone to give them some innings. Pagan’s infield single to Kendrick scores another run, and the Dodgers lead is just one 4-3.

Posey is walked to load the bases, but Frias gets Maxwell to ground back to the box to finally end then frame. The Dodgers go down 123 in the bottom of the fifth against George Kontos. The Dodgers score one more in the bottom of the sixth. Pederson homers on a breaking ball around his ankles, giving the Dodgers a 5-3 lead.

Turner doing a lot of Turning down for what-Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Liberatore strikes out Matt Duffy, and retires the Giants in the top of the seventh. Yimi Garcia sets the Giants down in the top of the eighth, whiffing Pagan like a kid. The Dodgers explode in the bottom of the eighth for three more insurance runs. Yusmeiro Petit gives up a one-out single to Uribe, and then walks Pederson. With two on pinch-hitter Justin Turner blasts a three-run shot over the center field wall. The Dodgers lead is now 8-3!

That was all she wrote. Right hander Chris Hatcher came on to pitch the top of the ninth. He whiffs McGehee for the first out. Crawford flies to center for the second out. There’s a walk to Brandon Belt, but gets Aoki on a grounder to end the game. The Dodgers win it 8-3!

The Dodgers have some decisions to make about the starting rotation. It’s currently in shambles. The Dodgers are now down two starters. I think Mattingly said something about Baker staying up, so expect him to get some more starts. Frias may get a start as well. I would like to see some more of Bolsinger. The club has a couple of days to figure this out.

In the mean time, a win over the Giants feels real good tonight. The club is now 9-1 at home, and improves to 12-7 overall. We’ll see the rematch of the century tomorrow, as Madison Bumgarner will battle Clayton Kershaw Tuesday night at 7:10 PM in game two.

Go Blue!