Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Post-Game 4 Thread: Tightrope Act


Pictured: Dodgers pitching staff with an unidentified female

DODGERS 3, PADRES 2

This game started promisingly enough, with Zack Greinke retiring nine in a row and Yasiel Puig launching a 2-run home run that left a baseball-sized hole in the Western Metal Supply Co. building. Then, I guess they figured that was enough.

Greinke went on to give up a home run to Seth Smith in the 4th, then struggled mightily through a 29-pitch 5th (where he gave up another run on a wild pitch). Sure, the Dodgers managed to pick up an extra run on Dee Gordon's RBI single in the 4th, but that left the bullpen with a slim lead to protect for four innings. Paco Rodriguez and Chris Withrow did OK in the 6th and 7th (Paco was helped by a double play), but J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen figured we wanted to see some highwire theatrics in the 8th and 9th. Howell allowed the tying run to get into scoring position with a single and a walk before he too was bailed out by a double play. Jansen saved the scariest for last. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases, before he finally punched out Nick Hundley for the win.

Of course, the bullpen wouldn't have had to work this hard if they weren't having to pick up the slack left by another healthy dose of Dodger noffense. Hanley, AGon, and Ethier were a combined 0 for 11 with a walk. (AGon and Hanley are both hitting under a buck.) Carl Crawford went 1 for 5, but at least his one hit put him on base for Puig's bomb.

I'm pretty sure the noffense is a lingering effect of the Australia trip, but sooner or later, we won't be able to use that excuse anymore. At least being 3-1 should dissuade people from hitting the panic button just yet.

*sticks fingers in ears and ignores the Kershaw rumors*

1 comments:

Neeebs (The Original) said...

I think that the unidentified female is Morgana....pre-inflation period.