A Six-Run Fourth and a Farewell to Juan Uribe

There was a game between the Dodgers and the Braves on Tuesday, May 26, 2015, but the story of the night was happening just below the surface. It’s not too often that two teams complete a trade with each other while playing a game against each other, but the Dodgers and Braves did just that on that slightly cool Spring night. Juan Uribe, our beloved Papi, was traded to Atlanta.

The heartbreaking news of a possible trade for Alberto Callaspo amongst others in a six-player deal bubbled to the surface on Tuesday morning. Mt heart sank when I saw the rumors via Twitter. I knew that Uribe was already on the backburner this season with the emergence of Alex Guerrero, the hot hitting of Justin Turner and the impending arrival of Hector Olivera. Even though I knew that Juan Uribe’s time in Blue was coming to a close, I thought that the new front office would keep him through his final year at least for his still excellent defense at third base.

The awkward pre-game show on SportsNet LA showed Uribe in his Dodger uniform standing for the National Anthem before the 7:10 P.M. game commenced, but shortly after retreated back into the dugout after Callaspo was scratched from the Atlanta lineup. It was all happening right before our eyes.

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Nolan Arenado is amazing, but Juan Uribe’s glove is just as golden in my opinion. Uribe makes every play look easy at third base, and he still will be valuable to his new Atlanta team. Uribe became an unlikely favorite of mine after he turned his Dodger career around with jazzy playoff homeruns and a lovable personality. Never before have I became enamored with an ex-Giant before.

I admit that I did not like Uribe during the beginning of his four plus seasons with the Dodgers. By 2013, his renewed offense and always present gold defense had made me a fan. By 2014, Uribe had made me almost forget about those two abysmal seasons in 2011-2012. Hyun-jin Ryu and Juan Uribe’s friendship in and out of the dugout made us smile, and I miss both of them already.

Dodgers 8 11 1

Braves 0 5 0

WP- Kershaw (3-3)

LP- Teheran (4-2)

Golden Sombrero- Freeman

While the trade talk was abuzz, a certain guy named Clayton Kershaw was on the mound for the Dodgers. Kershaw was perfect with four strikeouts through four innings. He was using his curveball for first strikes, and he finally looked at ease on the mound for the first time this season.

"“You know what’s going on here. People are starting to wonder…Clayton has gone four and faced twelve batters.”- Vin Scully"

Alex Guerrero led off with a double in the home half of the third, and the trainers had to come out to check his ankle which he slammed down on an awkward slide into second. He seemed okay, but for some reason Guerrero attempted to go with A.J. Ellis at the plate and is quickly picked off by Julio Teheran. Ellis drew a walk, but his buddy Kersh grounded into the double play.

At least I still have Andre Ethier.

Why? Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers scored a season-high six times in the fourth. Howie Kendrick‘s double to the gap in the center field gap in the fourth to cash in Jimmy Rollins who got aboard on a force out for the first run of the game. Teheran intentionally walked Adrian Gonzalez, but Justin Turner took advantage and proceeded to knock in Kendrick with a RBI single to right field.

Then Andre Ethier hit a beautiful double to the right field corner, and two more runs came home! Teheran continued to meltdown, and he walked Alex Guerrero before A.J. Ellis drove in the fifth run of the inning with a double to left. Alex Guerrero is thrown out at home trying to score. Then Clayton Kershaw, who just happens to be working on a perfect game through four innings, hit a RBI single! The innings finally ended on a Joc Pederson groundout.

Nick Markakis singled to start things off against Kershaw in the fifth for the first Atlanta base hit of the night. Kershaw jumped in disapproval when he allowed a second hit in the inning, a single to Andrelton Simmons on a 1-2 count. Kendrick made a big play to rob Pedro Ciriaco of a base hit with a great stop and throw to first to barely get him as he slid.

In the fifth, The Dodgers chased Teheran from the game. Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homerun to left field, and that gave Gonzo his 1,000th and 1,001th career RBI, and the Dodgers took a commanding 8-0 lead.

Julio Teheran pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed 8 runs on 10 hits with 1 strikeout and 3 walks on 85 pitches.

Kershaw ended up striking out the side in the eighth despite the annoying Cameron Maybin single, and he avoided the dreaded seventh-inning meltdown even though he gave up another hit to Markakis and a subsequent wild pitch.

Mar 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe (right) jokes with outfielder Joc Pederson during player introductions against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training baseball game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Kershaw pitched 7 innings and allowed no runs on 4 hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks on 101 pitches.

J.P. Howell pitched the eighth inning, and Freddie Freeman was awarded with the Golden Sombrero on the night after striking out four times (three times against Kershaw). Sergio Santos got the ball in the ninth, and he was able to get the final three outs.

The Dodgers improve to 28-17 on the season.

The final game of the homestand on Wednesday will feature Zack Greinke and Alex Wood. The Dodgers will head to Busch Stadium for a three game series against their playoff foes starting on Friday.

While trades are part of the game, it still feels like you are losing a family member when a favorite player is traded. I wrote my sad goodbyes to Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon just months ago, and now we are losing another Dodger who added not only impeccable defense to the team but also a very fashionable presence in the clubhouse. Uribe will be remembered fondly by this Dodger fan, and I wish Papi a successful end to his career.

Juan Uribe’s final numbers as a Dodger:

407 games

1391 plate appearances

1287 at bats

125 runs

334 hits

68 doubles

2 triples

28 homeruns

155 RBI

8 stolen bases

80 walks

264 strikeouts

.260/.306/.381

Farewell, Uribe. Thanks for the memories.

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