Updated Dodgers Lineup: vs. Giants

After two consecutive heartbreakers where the San Franciscan catchers came up with walk-off homeruns off the Dodger bullpen, the Dodgers will be trying to avoid a probable sweep at the hands of their foes. Yesterday the Dodger offense led by the return of Dee Gordon was productive, and the epic fifth inning rally was quite a memorable frame. Yet the pitching wasn’t able to corral the aggressive bats of the Giants, and the World Champs ultimately honed in on struggling Dodger closer Brandon League in the bottom of the tenth inning. After a back and forth swapping of lead changes throughout the lengthy game, it was none other than Guillermo Quiroz who blasted the winning shot off League. Quiroz who? I had never heard of Quiroz before last night, but I think we all will now know the name. League has been ineffective to say the least, but it was also Don Mattingly‘s questionable choice to have League pitch a second inning instead of bringing in the best relief pitcher out of the pen, Kenley Jansen. Mattingly also blundered earlier in the game by asking resident Giants masher A.J. Ellis (who hit a homerun earlier in the game) to bunt in a key situation. Of course the bunting backfired and spurred the inevitable double play.

May 4, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants catcher Guillermo Quiroz (12) celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the tenth inning at AT

This evening in a nationally televised game, the Dodgers will try to stave off a three-game sweep at AT&T Park. They will have Hyun-jin Ryu on the mound who has been nothing short of spectacular in this his “rookie” season for the Dodgers. Last time out against the Rockies, Ryu struck out a career high 12 batters in six innings of work. He only allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in the win against the Rox. On April 2nd Ryu lost to the Giants after allowing 1 run on 10 hits with 5 strikeouts and a walk in 6 1/3 innings pitched at Dodger Stadium during his MLB debut. The southpaw has struck out 46 batters in 37 2/3 innings pitched thus far which is tops for rookie pitchers. Ryu has pitched better and better as the season has progressed. His dominance has been one of the few bright spots so far during this frustrating start to the season.

Matt Cain will be countering Ryu, and the right-hander is still looking for his first win on the year. Cain has had a rough start to the season, and he has already allowed nine homeruns. Last time out against Arizona, Cain allowed

Hyun-jin Ryu has the second most strikeouts on the Dodgers with 36. Photo: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

4 runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts and 4 walks over 6 innings in the no-decision. He allowed three homeruns in the fourth inning of the game against the D-backs. Cain is 4-8 with a 3.27 ERA in his career against the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez has plagued Cain in the past, and Gonzo is hitting .400 with 4 homeruns and 12 RBIs against him. Andre Ethier has also given Cain a hard time, and Dre is hitting .435 with a homerun against the struggling righty. Cain faced the Dodgers on Opening Day where he allowed 4 hits and struck out 8 over 6 shutout innings in the no-decision.

The Dodgers will need to utilize Dee Gordon’s speed, capitalize on Ryu’s dominance, and take advantage of Cain’s struggles in order to avoid the sweep. The Giants’ starters have not won a game since Barry Zito‘s win back on April 21st against San Diego.

Mark Ellis will not play today, and Monday will finally come the decision whether he is headed to the DL. The second baseman has been sitting out with a quad strain. Adrian Gonzalez, who suffered a stiff neck after colliding with an umpire, was unable to play the last two games. Gonzo, who has had much success against Cain, should be back in the lineup today. Jerry Hairston Jr. said he tweaked his groin last night, but he insists it’s “minor.”

Tune into ESPN at 5:00 p.m. for the finale of the series between the rival Dodgers and Giants. We will have our postgame coverage following the game. The Dodgers will return home to play the D-backs tomorrow night.

Giants 10 15 0

F/10

WP- Casilla (3-2)

LP- League (0-1)

HR- A.J. Ellis (2), Torres (1), Quiroz (1)

When the Dodgers and Giants play it is certainly never dull. Before the game Adrian Gonzalez was scratched due to his neck injury, and Hairston would start at first base. While Mark Ellis was still unable to play due to his quad strain, Carl Crawford was back in the lineup and leading off. The biggest game changer was that the Dodgers brought up Dee Gordon to replace a disabled Hanley Ramirez. While the Dodgers wanted to have Dee play a full year in AAA in order to refine his defense and hone his plate discipline, they really had little choice after Hanley’s hamstring injury. Dee Gordon would be the catalyst the Dodgers have needed. His triple in the top of the fifth inning and his speed in the seventh would help the Dodger score three runs. He single handedly manufactured the run in the seventh. The top of the fifth inning will live in infamy as a flurry of Dodger hits strung together gave them a seven-run inning and allowed them to come back from behind to take the lead. The lead was short-lived, and the game went back-and-forth as both teams swapped leads several times.

In the end, the ineffective bullpen (headed by the anti-closer Brandon League) could not hold a lead, and the Dodgers were defeated by the Giants back-up catcher Quiroz in the bottom of the tenth inning as they go down in flames as the Giants walk-off with the win for the second night in a row.

May 4, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Matt Magill (36) prepares to deliver a pitch against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at AT

The Dodgers have a typical first inning up in San Francisco against Ryan Vogelsong.  Jerry Hairston Jr. singles with one out, but Matt Kemp grounds into an inning ending double play. Sigh.

The Giants and home plate umpire rough up the Dodgers and Matt Magill in the bottom of the first as the pumpkin colored foes go through their entire lineup.  Angel Pagan gets a double on a pop-up to left center field after Dee Gordon attempts to fight the sun and make the catch to no avail as he falls. Matt Kemp barely moves to try to go for the ball. Matt Magill is now flustered, and he walks Marco Scutaro and Pablo Sandoval consecutively to load the bases up for you know who…Buster Posey. Mr. M.V.P.  promptly hits a ground-rule double over the left field wall, and two runs score. Hunter Pence strikes out on a foul tip for the first out of the inning. A third run scores on a single to short by Gregor Blanco. Dee Gordon makes a nice attempt to snag the ball from deep at short, but his bouncing throw is late. Brandon Crawford grounds into a force out. Brandon Belt walks, and that’s the third walk of the inning allowed by Magill. Ryan Vogelsong strikes out to mercifully end the inning, but not before Magill has made 42 pitches and three runs come in.

Vogelsong quickly retires Andre Ethier by striking him out in the second inning. A.J. Ellis grounds out. Skip Schumaker manages a two-out single, but former Giant Juan Uribe grounds into a force out.

Matt Kemp makes a nice catch on a deep fly ball hit by Pagan. This time he knows where the ball is. Scutaro singles. Sandoval then singles to center, and the Giants are in business again with runners at first and third with one out. The obligatory wild pitch allows Scutaro to score, 4-0 Giants. Posey walks. Rick Honeycutt goes out to talk to Magill to give the bullpen a chance to warm up. Pence whacks a single to left field, and the Giants have loaded the bases once again. That will be that for Matt Magill as Don Mattingly comes out with a sad, early hook. He’ll bring in J.P. Howell to try retire Blanco and Crawford. Sandoval scores on a sacrifice fly by Blanco, and the Giants take a commanding 5-0 lead. Crawford shatters his bat on a groundout to finally end the ugly inning.

Matt Magill only made it through 1 1/3 innings and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts on 63 pitches.

In the third, J.P Howell bats for the first time since 2008. He goes down on strikes. Crawford singles with two outs, and JHair is hit by a pitch. Matt Kemp flies out, and once again he is unable to hit with runners in scoring position.

May 4, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Ryan Vogelsong (32) prepares to deliver a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning at AT

Ryan Vogelsong singles with one out in the bottom of the third. Howell is able to get the last two outs, and the lefty pitches a scoreless frame.

Ethier strikes out for the second time in the top of the fourth. A.J. Ellis homers to center field, and the Dodgers get a run on the board. A.J. is like a beacon of hope during these dark times. Uribe singles. Gordon flies out.

J.P. Howell pitches another inning in the bottom of the fourth, and another San Franciscan run is plated. Sandoval and Posey hit back-to-back singles. Pence grounds into a force out, and Posey is out at second. Pablo  scores on another force out hit into by Blanco, and the Giants lead 6-1. A wild pitch moves Blanco to second, but Crawford who is at the plate strikes out to end the inning.

The Dodgers wage a comeback of epic proportion in the top of the fifth inning. Nick Punto, who is hitting for Howell in the top of the fifth, draws a walk off Vogelsong. Crawford hits into a force play as CC flies down the line at first to avoid the double play. JHair hits a ground-rule double, and the Dodgers have runners at second and third. Matt Kemp cracks his bat on a single up the middle, and both runners come in to score! The lead is now cut to 6-3. Andre Ethier flies out to center. Hairston pulls something while running, and he limps back to the dugout. He’ll have to come out of the game later, and Uribe will move to first base. A.J. Ellis draws his signature walk. Skip Schumaker singles inside the third base bag, and Matt Kemp scores giving the Dodgers another run. It’s now 6-4. Juan Uribe singles in A.J. Ellis, and all of a sudden it’s a one run game! Bruce Bochy will replace Ryan Vogelsong with Jean Machi out of the Giants bullpen. Dee Gordon then proceeds to triple to the gap and he flies around the base path like a cheetah, and two more runs score! The Dodgers take a 7-6 lead! Punto comes up again for the second time, and he singles in the eighth run for the Dodgers! Crawford then singles. This is the first time the Dodgers have scored more than four runs in an inning this season. Crawford steals second with Hairston at-bat. He’s still in the game at this point. Hairston strikes out to end the incredible inning.

Ryan Vogelsong pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing 7 runs on 9 hits, with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks on 89 pitches.

Javy Guerra comes in to pitch the bottom of the fifth. Belt strikes out. Andres Torres homers, but it’s only a solo shot. The Dodgers remain in the lead 8-7. Pagan pops out, Scutaro walks, and Sandoval flies out to end the inning.

May 4, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (17) scores a run on a base hit by infielder Juan Uribe (not pictured) against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning at AT

In the sixth, Ethier and A.J. hit consecutive singles, but the Dodgers can’t repeat that seven-run inning. Pagan was taken out of the game with a hamstring pull.

Javy walks Posey to open up the bottom of the sixth. Pence singles. Joaquin Arias is hit by a pitch to load the bases up with nobody out. It looked like he was trying to bunt, and Mattingly starts to argue to no avail. Mattingly will now make an interesting double switch. Paco Rodriguez comes in from the pen, and Luis Cruz will come in to play first base. Paco strikes out Brandon Crawford. Brandon Belt also strikes out! The obligatory wild pitch that goes all the way to the backstop allows Posey to score, and the game is all tied up 8-8. Torres hits a comebacker to Paco for the third out.

Javier Lopez will pitch the seventh for the Giants. Dee Gordon leads off with a walk. Punto’s sacrifice bunt moves Gordon over to second. With Crawford batting Gordon steals third, his first base of the season. On a grounder by Crawford, Dee Gordon scores by sliding around Posey’s tag! Crawford reaches safely on the fielder’s choice, and the Dodgers retake the lead 9-8. The Giants will make another pitching change, and George Kontos will come in. Cruz flies out. Kemp pops out.

Ronald Belisario will pitch the bottom of the seventh, and he promptly serves up a double to Francisco Peguero. Scutaro singles, and the Giants have runners at first and third with nobody out. Sandoval’s sacrifice fly easily allows Peguero to score, and once again it’s all tied up 9-9. Posey grounds out, but Scutaro takes second on the play. Pence grounds out, and Belisario is barely able to throw him out at first to end the inning.

Jeremy Affeldt is in for the top of the eighth. Ethier draws a lead-off walk. A.J. Ellis grounds into a double play, because Mattingly asks him to bunt. Why? A.J. is one of the best hitters versus the Giants on the team, and you ask him to bunt? Skip grounds out to end the frame.

Ronald Belisario pitches a 1-2-3 inning for the Dodgers in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the tie.

Santiago Casilla is in for the ninth inning. Justin Sellers, who is pinch-hitting for Beli, strikes out looking. Dee Gordon singles, and with Punto in the batter’s box he steals second! Punto strikes out. Crawford grounds out to second, and Dee is stranded.

May 4, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Sergio Romo (54) jokes with teammates in the dugout before the start of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT

Brandon League will try to send this into extra innings for the Dodgers in the bottom of the ninth. Torres leads off with a walk which never ends well. Peguero grounds into a force. With Scutaro at the plate, Torres steals second. League walks Scutaro which brings up Sandoval with two on and one out. Sandoval’s little roller gives him an infield single to load the bases up as Punto doesn’t even attempt a throw. Then a miracle happens. Posey grounds into a 4-5 double play as Schumaker steps on the second base bag and then throws to Cruz at first!

On to the tenth. The Dodgers can’t do much against Casilla.

League, who’s in for another inning, strikes out Hunter Pence. Then a seemingly nobody, Guillermo Quiroz, blasts a walk-off homerun off the very ineffective League to give the Giants their second walk-off win in as many nights.

Injuries, poor management, questionable training and coaching techniques, ineffective pitching, defensive sloppiness, bunting, and overall bad fundamentals are sinking this team. Tonight the offense was sparked by Gordon’s return, but that one beautiful inning was overcast by the bottom of the tenth. The Dodgers now drop to three games under .500 at 13-16 as they lose the series in San Francisco. Tomorrow evening, the Dodgers will be trying to stave off a three-game sweep at the hands of their rivals.

Tomorrow the series finale will be at 5 p.m. on ESPN.  Hyun-jin Ryu and Matt Cain will make for a great match-up.