Dodgers Series Opening Lone Star Loss, Bigger Than The Heart of Texas

They say everything is bigger in Texas. Losses are bigger I would imagine. So when the Dodgers lose in the lone star state, (and they did poorly) it becomes magnified. The mediocre performance from the bullpen is bigger. The mediocre performance from Carlos Frias was a little extra pathetic, and the crappy performance from the offense was just a tad crappier. Deep in the heart of Texas! The Dodgers were defeated by the Rangers at Arlington by a 4-1 score in the series opener. Since the game was played at Arlington, the two clubs played by American League rules and used a DH. Adrian Gonzalez was the DH, and Justin Turner played at first.

I would also imagine that fatigue set in as well, after the club’s incredible twelve inning 4-2 come from behind win at San Diego that probably spurred the firing of Bud Black. Ok maybe it didn’t, but I would like to imagine that it played a part.

The Dodgers opened a four game home and home interleague series with the Texas Rangers by having airplane difficulties. Their flight was delayed en route due to mechanical issues, and they didn’t get into town until late. The club actually had to make an emergency landing at LAX. The Rangers being the better rested club used a four run sixth inning to beat the Dodgers behind a solid performance from right hander Yovani Gallardo. The Rangers used two lead-off walks, and three singles to plate all four runs in that dreadful inning.

Dodgers 1 7 0

Rangers  4 6 0

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I still can’t believe the Brewers just gave him to the Rangers for nothing. The Dominican was dominant, allowing just four hits, and three walks across seven shutout frames. He whiffed four and made 101 pitches to win his sixth game of the season and even his record.

Gallardo’s mound opponent Carlos Frias had another one of his Jekyll and hide performances. Frias appeared fine, pitching five shutout frames until he wilted in the Texas heat in the bottom of the sixth. The right hander threw 5.1 innings allowing four earned runs on five hits and struck out four. “Deep in the heart of Texas!”

The game was a scoreless tie until that sixth frame. The Dodgers had gotten consecutive lead-off walks from Alberto Callaspo, and Joc Pederson to put runners on first and second. Much was made of Callaspo’s base running blunder when he failed to tag up to third on Yasiel Puig’s deep fly to right. He hesitated and went back to second base. It didn’t matter though, because Adrian Gonzalez would immediately ground into an inning ending double play. “Deep in the heart of Texas!”

In the bottom of the sixth Frias did the exact same thing, issuing consecutive lead-off walks to Shin-Soo Choo, and super prospect Joey Gallo. However the Dodgers couldn’t get out of the inning. Prince Fielder singled to center to score Shoo, and give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Then Mitch Moreland immediately singled home Gallo to put the Rangers ahead 2-0.

Frias got the hook and in came left hander Adam Liberatore. Elvis Andrus sacrificed the runners over to second and third, which setup the two-run ground ball single to left from Rougned Odor. The Rangers took a 4-0 lead. By the way, does anybody know how to pronounce Odor’s name? 

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Call to the Pen

The Dodgers would do very little if anything offensively the rest of the game. Yasmani Grandal’s solo home run in the top of the eighth inning off of Tanner Scheppers prevented the Dodgers from being shutout, but that was about it. “Deep in the heart of Texas!”

The Dodgers tried to rally, but as usual came up empty. Callaspo walked with two outs in that eighth inning, and Joc Pederson singled. Puig whiffed and broke his bat over his knee in frustration ala Bo Jackson, and Gonzalez grounded out.

It was old friend Shawn Tolleson who shutout his former club in the top of the ninth inning to end the game, to earn his ninth save of the season. Is he the Ranger’s closer now? Anyways, Howie Kendrick singled which gave us some hope. Justin Turner flied out to deep left, and Andre Ethier struck out while losing his bat into the stands. The final out was recorded on a Grandal ground out, and the Dodgers lose……”deep in the heart of Texas!”

I’ll stop singing that song, but how annoying was this game? The Dodgers are now 37-27 on the season, and are now three games ahead of the Giants pending their outcome in their game against Seattle. As I write this the Giants are losing to the Mariners 4-1 in the eighth inning. If the Giants lose, the lead stays at 3.5 games.

The Dodgers will finish the road trip Tuesday night….deep in the heart of Texas! Ok, sorry guys, I can’t get that song out of my head. Brett Anderson will counter right hander Chi Chi Gonzalez at 5:05 PM. The Dodgers will then head home after the game to finish off the Rangers with two games at Chavez Ravine before the slumping Giants come into town for the weekend.

Go Blue!