Rangers Walk-Off with a Texas Sized Win Over Dodgers

The Dodgers were Texas toast by the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday night when the Rangers took the game by its horns for the walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth.

Brett Anderson and Chi Chi Gonzalez both pitched great games, but neither starting pitcher was involved in the decision. Ironically, it was former Dodger and Clayton Kershaw buddy Shawn Tolleson who picked up the win after 2/3 innings of work. Gonzalez was in the zone until Justin Turner tied up the game in the top the ninth with a two-run blast off the tiring starter.

The euphoria of JT’s homerun did not last long. Don Mattingly was saving Kenley Jansen, and instead in came Josh Ravin who surrendered the walk-off homerun to Robinson Chirinos to brand the Dodgers with a big “L” for the loss.

Dodgers 2 7 0

Rangers 3 9 0

WP- Tolleson (2-1)

LP- Ravin (2-1)

HR- Turner (6), Chirinos (6)

Brett Anderson unraveled after retiring the first two batters in the bottom half of the first inning.  A walk to Prince Fielder and a single to Kyle Blanks began the onslaught. The Rangers would have scored a run on a Mitch Moreland single to left field, but big Prince Fielder fell on his belly rounding third base. That was a very lucky break for the Dodgers and very amusing to watch as well. Unfortunately Brett Anderson’s shaky 25-pitch inning continued, and he walked in a run after having a full count on Joey Gallo with the bases loaded. Yasiel Puig tracked down a well hit ball by Robinson Chirinos to end the Rangers rally at one run.

Joc Pederson made another fantastic catch in the second inning when he caught up to a Shin-Soo Choo fly ball to center.

The Dodgers wasted a scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth after Yasmani Grandal singled and Jimmy Rollins walked. With two outs and two runners on Joc Pederson struck out swinging against Chi Chi Gonzalez. Joc slammed his helmet down in anger.

The Rangers scored another run in the bottom of the fifth off Brett Anderson when they singled thrice. Prince Fielder’s RBI single made it 2-0.

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The Dodgers could not gain any traction off Chi Chi Gonzalez, and they only mustered four hits which two of them came off the bat of Joc Pederson.

Brett Anderson pitched out of an eighth inning jam after getting up over 100 pitches on the night. With an inconsistent bullpen, Don Mattingly chose to stick with Anderson in the eighth after the left-hander pitched a great game only allowing  two runs. Kyle Blanks doubled with one out, but Anderson was able to retire Mitch Moreland and Joey Gallo to end the inning. Joc once again made a tough running catch to get to that Gallo fly ball.

Brett Anderson pitched 8 innings and allowed 2 runs on 8 hits with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks on 114 pitches.

Chi Chi Gonzalez was on cruise control well into the ninth inning against the Dodgers until he hit a snag. Adrian Gonzalez flied out, and the first baseman went 1-for-4 on the night against his Gonzo counterpart. Howie Kendrick worked a one-out walk (which proved very important). Justin Turner then proceeded to crush a two-run homerun to left field to tie up the game at two apiece! Chi Chi retreated back into the dugout, and Justin Turner’s glorious red hair was blowing in the Texas breeze as he rounded the bases!

Old friend Shawn Tolleson came in to take over for Chi Chi, and he allowed singled to Grandal and Guerrero. Chris Heisey came into pinch-run for Grandal at second. Jimmy Rollins once again can’t come up with the big hit, and after going 3-2 against Tolleson, he flied out to left field to end the inning.

Chi Chi Gonzalez pitched 8 1/3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 strikeouts and 2 walks on 105 pitches.

The Dodgers bullpen once again could not preserve the tie, and Josh Ravin only made three pitches before Robinson Chirinos hit a walk-off homerun to left center field. Chirinos, who was barely hitting over the Mendoza Line, hit the game winning homerun and gave the Rangers the two-game sweep in Arlington.

Let me weep all over my yellow roses.

The Dodgers drop to 37-28 on the season and 12-18 on the road. The Giants won on Wednesday, so the Dodgers are now 2 1/2 games in front of San Francisco in the N.L. West.

The series will continue in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Clayton Kershaw will counter Wandy Rodriguez in the first of two games against the Rangers at Dodger Stadium.