Lucky 13: Grandal Wins it for the Dodgers in Extra Innings

The two teams combined for 14 pitchers and 15 hits across 13 innings with only 1 run scored. But Yasmani Grandal‘s game winning home run in the bottom of the 13th finally sent home all Dodger fans happy as LA collected their 16th win against 8 losses.

Heading into today’s series finale against the Diamondbacks, most of the recent headlines have been stolen by Joc Pederson and how the Dodgers have been swinging the bats. The Dodgers had scored 21 runs in their last three games with Pederson acting as a one-man wrecking crew, hitting a home run in 4 straight games played while also performing some of the most remarkable defense seen in the Dodger center field in quite some time.

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With two starting pitchers who had a combined ERA surpassing 8 at the start of the game, fans could have been forgiven for anticipating another enthralling game of offense today. Brett Anderson was facing Chase Anderson for the second time this season. They last squared off in Arizona on April 10 in a game the Dodgers lost 4-3 in 10 innings. Today would be another extra inning affair but with even better pitching.

The first six innings were as well pitched as anyone could ask for. Both Andersons were painting the corners, changing speeds, commanding location, and keeping runners off the bases. After throwing 3.2 innings of no-hit ball, Adrian Gonzalez finally broke the Chase Anderson spell with a looping single to right in the 4^th. Adrian then advanced to second on a wild pitch before Alex Guerrero struck out on a 83 mph breaking ball that painted the outside corner of the plate. Second base would be rarely visited by either team again for the rest of the game.

“So we go to the fifth. Each team killing worms.” Vin Scully commenting on the number of ground ball outs induced by both Andersons.

In the top of the 5^th, Arizona catcher Tuffy Gosewisch singled to right then was thrown out by A.J. Ellis trying to steal second. At that time, the Diamondbacks were yet to get a runner safely to second base.

You’ve been able to set your watch this season by when Brett Anderson really begins to struggle in a game. Through the first 4 innings he is typically quite effective. Once that 5^th or 6^th inning rolls around, however, it’s like a different guy has taken the mound. By the time opposition batters get their second or third look at Anderson, they appear to have him figured out. Either that or he begins to lose some command from the mound which seemed unlikely today since he had only thrown 68 pitches through the first 5 innings. His 5th and 6th innings were nearly as sharp as his first four and he did a marvelous job keeping Diamondback hitters off balance.

May 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher

(35) pitches the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

As great as Brett looked, Chase Anderson performed even better. The young talent throws both a 93 mph fastball and a 75 mph change up along with a curve and slider. His command today was excellent, at one point throwing a first pitch strike to 8 straight batters.

In the home half of the 5^th, after Andre Ethier popped out, Juan Uribe singled to left, stretching his hitting streak to 12 games. “For the Dodgers they’ve piled up a total of two hits,” noted a rather dry Vin Scully as Uribe prepared his short lead off from first. Ellis then flew out to right and Brett Anderson popped out to Yasmany Tomas at third, leaving Uribe stranded.

Chase Anderson was finished after 6 innings surrendering only 2 hits, no runs with 1 walk and 7 strike outs.  Brett Anderson nearly matched him going 6 innings allowing 5 hits, no runs, no walks and 4 strike outs. It’s a shame neither of these men could claim a victory but certainly fare that neither of them took the loss.

It turned out to be all-hands-on-deck for the bullpen in a game that ended up going 13 innings. Pedro Baez, Adam Liberatore, and Yimi Garcia each pitched one shutout inning. Sergio Santos struck out 2 batters before giving up an intentional walk in the 10^th and giving way to Paco Rodriguez for an inning and a third. Juan Nicasio pitched a strong 12^th and J.P. Howell got the win and a game saving tag at the plate in the 13^th. Chris Hatcher was the only remaining reliever left in the pen. I could’ve sworn I even saw Clayton Kershaw asking if he could warm up.

Need more evidence this was a tightly pitched game? Joc Pederson and Jimmy Rollins combined for 6 strike outs, and Howie Kendrick didn’t generate the first real excitement on the base paths until the bottom of the 9^th when he lined an Andrew Chafin fastball into the right field gap. Right fielder Mark Trumbo had trouble fielding the ball cleanly prompting Kendrick to dig for three. The relay throw from second baseman Chris Owings was inch perfect and Kendrick was tagged out at third by Yasmany Tomas. Nine innings were complete and still no runner had made it safely to third.

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The 10^th frame began with Paul Goldschmidt hitting a liner in the left field gap for a double, enjoying yet another multi-hit game against the Dodgers. He finished the 3-game set 6-for-13 with 2 doubles and a home run. He was stranded this time, however, after Santos struck out Trumbo and Tomas. Owings was intentionally walked before Paco Rodriguez came in to force Jordan Pacheco to ground out to Kendrick.

The Dodgers looked to have something going in their half of the 10^th when Ethier led off by lining a 2-2 pitch down the right field line for his own stand up double. Reliever Enrique Burgos got Juan Uribe to strike out. Yasmani Grandal, who pinch hit and took over for Ellis, earned a walk only to see Scott Van Slyke strike out and Joc Pederson ground out on his way to an 0-for-5 day to end the threat.

May 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher

(31) is out at home in the thirteenth inning against the tag of Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher

(56) at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With few threats in the 11^th and 12^th innings, J.P. Howell was brought in to pitch the 13^th. David Peralta kicked things off with a ground out to first followed by Chris Owings grounding out to short. Jordan Pacheco then singled to left and Aaron Hill singled to right, moving Pacheco, who became the first base runner to reach third safely in the game. With Cliff Pennington batting, a wild pitch brought Pacheco looking to score from third. Grandal gathered the ball and flipped it to a covering Howell who then put his glove behind his back as he tumbled butt-first on the plate in an instinctive, no-look backhand tag on the sliding Pacheco. Still scoreless heading to the bottom of the inning.

Just over four hours since it began, the game ended when Yasmani Grandal deposited a 1-1 change up from Evan Marshall over the left-center wall, delivering the win and bringing this battle of the bullpens to a merciful close.

Tomorrow the Dodgers will be in Milwaukee, kicking off a 7-game road trip where Clayton Kershaw will face off against the Brew Crew’s Kyle Lohse. First pitch is at 4:20pm Pacific. Please get your rest.