Sunday, July 07, 2013

Post-Game 87 Thread: We've Got Ellis; Giants Jealous

Oyster Pubes makes a throwing error.

Yasiel Puig reaches third on the error.

Bruce Bochy is not happy.

Later that inning, A.J. Ellis strokes a bases-loaded, bases-clearing double.

Andres Torres can't chase Ellis' hit down.

Sergio Romo is not happy.

DODGERS 4, GIANTS 1

Grit grit gritty grit. The new-look Dodgers have climbed up to second place in the NL West thanks to never-say-die attitude that wasn't present in the first two months of the season (or if it was, it was held by our opponents). And today's ninth inning up in San Francisco, in a rubber match game that was a surprising pitching duel (Clayton Kershaw, as usual, delivered; Giants starter Chad Gaudin, unexpectedly, matched Kershaw through seven innings), was a 1-1 tie going to the ninth.

But then came the Dodgers. Yasiel Puig, jeered and mocked for his four-K performance Saturday, led off the ninth inning with a single to left. Adrian Gonzalez then singled to Buster Posey, the ball going off his glove and rolling into shallow right-center. Posey chased down the ball and tried to underhand a ball to second base, but the ball went past the bag and into short left field, forcing Kung Fat Panda to chase that error down and leaving third base unoccupied. Puig, uncommonly wise on the basepaths this time (he was thrown out trying to steal third during a Hanley Ramirez AB in the fourth), scurried to third base.

Dodgers at the corners, none out. Ramirez (who had tripled in the second and scored on a Andre Ethier single to center) decided to swing at a 3-0 count, which was a comebacker to Giants closer Sergio Romo. Romo got the force at first. With second and third occupied, Ethier was intentionally walked, with one out, to take their chances on a double play.

Juan Uribe struck out badly. But with two outs, A.J. Ellis took Romo's second pitch into deep left-center, rolling all the way to the wall and clearing all three bases, giving the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. Ellis literally took a "Beat LA" cheer and not only silenced it, he shoved it up the asses of a stadium full of Giants fans (Ellis was also incredibly poised and humble in his post-game interview with Patrick O'Neal).

Kenley Jansen came in to ice the ninth, and it was done. Dodgers win the series and are all alone in second place, 4.5 GB Arizona (our next stop on the road trip). Giants fall to 6.5 GB, one game ahead of the last-place Padres in the NL West.

Great gritty win for the Dodgers today. We need to keep Puig from making foolish decisions (Puig did make a sweet catch in the bottom of the eighth), and it would be nice to see Carl Crawford get back into things, but overall, I'll take it.

13 comments:

Fred's Brim said...

it feels good to win one of those, one that sure seemed headed towards disappointment
I am hoping we get 2 of 3 in Az

Scott said...

See ya SaFra...choke!

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Need a net series win in AZ

spank said...

I heart Romo.




Not really.

Alex Cora said...

Screw 2-3 in AZ. We need to sweep. That should be the mindset of every series. Jugular or nothing fellas.

Paul said...

Dodgers focus one game at a time. Those of us with high blood pressure focus on getting 2 of 3. Those of us drinking think sweep. Hey once again 2 of 3 ain't bad.

Dusty Baker said...

wait, what about us with both high blood pressure and from the drinking class?

Paul said...

Dustino,

That's why I said "hey once again 2 out of 3 ain't bad."

Paul said...

Think drink. Let the Dodgers figure out the rest.

Dusty Baker said...

The sport of baseball keeps my blood pressure low.

The Dodgers keep my blood pressure high.

Neeebs (The Original) said...

Red wine keeps my blood pressure low.

Scott said...

The Bochy photo will be historical for this year. The Giants will not make the playoffs...

Alex Cora said...

How about 4 out of 3? Oops, I'm drunk...