Friday, April 13, 2012

Post-Game 8 Thread: 9 Straight Ks + 4 Straight BBs = 1 Walkoff Win

Aaron Harang ended up with 13 Ks.

DODGERS 9, PADRES 8

Almost six years ago, the Dodgers had a historic night against the Padres by hitting four consecutive home runs to tie the game in the ninth. It wasn't quite as dramatic tonight, but the Dodgers won with another four in a row against the Pads, working four consecutive walks to win once again in walkoff fashion.

The score back then? 11-10. The score tonight? 9-8.

The story before the ninth was Aaron Harang, who struck out the first nine batters he faced yielded a single to the first batter of the game but then proceeded to strike out the next nine batters in a row, breaking the Dodgers record for consecutive strikeouts, set by Johnny Podres with eight against the Phillies in 1962. Harang came within one K of tying Tom Seaver's record of ten consecutive Ks...which was against the Padres in 1970. San Diego = K-Town?

The Dodgers scored four in the third, thanks to a Jason Bartlett error and Andre Ethier's two-RBI single. Harang faltered in the fourth, allowing three, but the Dodgers seemingly put it out of reach in the bottom of the inning, with Matt Kemp's two-run home run putting them ahead 8-3.

But the bullpen rushed in with cans of gasoline, with Todd Coffey (36.00 ERA) and Scott Elbert allowing the Padres to within two. And in the ninth, Kenley Jansen gave up a game-tying two-run homer to Chase Headley.

Which set the stage for the walkoff walk. With two out, Andrew Cashner walked Mellis, Kemp and James Loney (!). Joe Thatcher completed the collapse by issuing four straight balls to Ethier.

The Dodgers move a major league-best record of 7-1. And Sax would like you to know: Juan Uribe went 0 for 4 with three LOB and a GIDP.

1: Harry How/Getty Images

9 comments:

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

The important thing is we won.

Hideo Nomo said...

9+4=13
13 Ks for Harang on Friday the 13th.

Also, Harang's jersey # is 44, foretelling the 4 4-ball counts.

Orel said...

And 4+4=8, and this was game #8.

Hideo Nomo said...

And 4x4=16, the jersey # of Ethier, who drew the walk-off walk.

Orel said...

And 4^4=256, which is how many pounds Juan Uribe weighs.

Dusty Baker said...

ANd 13 is the number of Steel Reserves Spanky had last night during the game.

Dusty Baker said...

Well, I did say "during the game" thus excluding the daytime drinking Spank is sure to have indulged in as well as the requisite post-game, victory binge, which, technically speaking, is likely still going on.

spank said...

BOOZE!

Steve Sax said...

Correcting the post... Sax