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| Calyton Kershaw(left), Brandon League(middle) and AJ Ellis(right) |
7/10/2014: Kemp Breaks Slump As Beckett Battles - Sunday was a very good day for Matt Kemp, as he ended, yet, another slump of the season, going 4 for 5, with 2 RBI's. Both of his RBI's came from singles with runners in scoring position, so that's a pretty good sign. If he wants to secure a starting spot on this team, he has to keep hitting with RISP-- he has to.
Beckett had himself a rough outing, as he was never able to retire the side in order. That is, until the bottom of the 5th, which happened to be Beckett's last inning.
Another Dodger we desperately need to hit better with RISP is fan-favorite, Adrian Gonzalez. "A-Gon" only managed to get one hit in the game, but it came with the bases chucked. I guess I'll take it... I guess. Dodgers smash the Rockies: 8-2.
7/8/2014: Tigers Trounce Dodgers With Ryu Taking A Beating - The day started off pretty bad to begin with, and ended in fireworks. With news coming that starter Josh Beckett was placed on the DL because an on-going hip issue, you would've thought that he had given his boys the pep-talk of the year, with how they started off the game. Unfortunately, a 5-0 lead wouldn't last past the 2nd inning.
Ryu was lifted from the game after 2 1/3 innings while allowing 7 runs off 10 hits. Mattingly also wouldn't make it to the end of the game, as he was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. The bullpen, not wanting to be outdone, gave up 7 runs off of 10 hits, as well.
I believe the Dodgers can win a title this year. But, how a team can think it's a playoff caliber team when they give up 14 unanswered runs, is beyond me-- 14 UNANSWERED RUNS! The Tigers maul the Dodgers: 5-14.
7/9/2014: Greinke's Quality Start Wasted As Rojas Hits Career First HR - After being swept by the Tigers in a two-game set, the Dodgers found themselves a half game ahead of the rival Giants. With Greinke on the mound, like All-State, they were sure to be in good hands. Ask and ye shall deliver, as Greinke pitched a quality game, only giving up 3 runs through 7 innings.
Sadly, there was no help behind him, as his offense was only able to squeak by 1 run; the first career homerun by shortstop, Miguel Rojas, in the top of the 5th. They did have a lot on their plate, after all.
That same day, a jury absolved Frank McCourt of the Brian Stow beating while the judge ordered the Dodgers franchise to shell out $14 million to the Stow family, for medical expenses. Sound like an excuse? Well, it is. I'm pretty bitter right now. I mean 14 unanswered runs-- REALLY?! Anyway, the Dodgers lose, blah-blah-blah: 1-4.
7/10/2014: Dodgers Narrowly Win While Kershaw's Streak Ends - It appears history won't be made and records won't be broken, all because of Chase Headley. The entire game, Clayton was in the zone, striking out 11 with only walking one in a complete game victory. The scoreless-inning streak was snapped at 41 innings when Headley took a hanging slider, on a 1-2 count, barely over the left center wall.
The Dodgers wasted a few scoring opportunities, but were able to score at least two runs for the staff ace. Yasiel Puig did what he does and hustled out of the box, turning what should've been a single into a double. 'Stache Van Slick was able to get him home with a bloop single to right-- hey, a hit's a hit, regardless of how hard or soft it's hit. "A-Gon" was also able to secure another RBI with a scoring fly-ball, hit to center.
With Thursday night's win, Kershaw is now 11-2 on the season, with a 1.78 ERA. Even with missing six weeks earlier in the year, the 'Shaw still managed to win 11 games, all by his lonesome. Dodgers squeak by the Padres: 1-2.
7/11/2014: Padres' Rookie Looks Like Veteran As Dodgers Lose Cool - Friday night was a very frustrating time for the Dodgers and Dodger fans, alike. Three Dodger players had 0-for nights and the team as a whole still can't figure out how to hit with runners in scoring position.
Matt Kemp made his frustrations visible when he snapped his bat over his knee following, a fly-out with, you guess it, RISP.
Yes, it's a very frustrating time indeed. Especially when you're facing a rookie on the mound that, with Friday night's win, was able to notch his 5th "W" of the season.
Dan Haren, who can't seem to do anything right on the hill lately, had yet another short outing, lasting only 4 innings while allowing four Padres to cross home plate on six hits. Also taking another beating, was the clubs' bullpen, as Jamie Wright gave up two earned runs in his two innings of work.
"The results were terrible," said Haren, who is now 8-6 this season. Yeah, I'd say the results have been pretty darn terrible, as of late, Danny. The Padres win in a nail-biter: 6-3.
7/12/2014: Maholm Pitches Gem As Ellis Hits Walk-Off - With Saturday night's win, the Dodgers are back on top on the NL West. Paul Maholm tried to do his best Clayton Kershaw impression, and it wasn't too bad. He pitched six strong innings, allowing only two hits while striking out four. I guess what they say is true: 250th times' a charm!
The bullpen, which has struggled as of late, was solid, backing Maholm's efforts with three shut-out innings of their own. League, Howell and Jensen gave up three hits, combined, through three innings, with Kenley adding two more K's to his stats.
The Padres' Ian Kennedy pitched a gem, as well. While striking out eight Dodgers in eight innings, he only gave up three hits, but also walked four.
Even though the Dodgers were able to get the "W" with a scoring fly-ball hit to left field by catcher, A.J. Ellis, in the bottom of the 9th, they continued to struggle at the plate, going 0-5 with men in scoring position. Maybe they just have a flair for the dramatics...? Dodgers walk it off in the 9th: 0-1.
The Close-Out: Going in to the All-Star break, the Dodgers were able to secure the division lead in the NL West, and with Saturday night's win, the best record in the National League.
As a Dodger fan, I can't express how happy I am to be even typing these words, but there's an issue that I can't wrap my head around. The question I keep asking myself: why can't a lineup that has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in the entire league, hit with runners in scoring position? It's disconcerting because the way that this team is built, there's not one man that's dependent on more so than any other.
They all have to pull their own weight without having to carry the entire team on their shoulders as they once have had to do. It's perplexing. It could be the pitch selection, or nerves or what-have-you. This team needs-- and I can't stress this enough, they need to start hitting with men is scoring position.
If they make it to the post-season, and I don't see them not making it, it's going to be that much harder to go deep into the playoffs with the amount of players they're leaving stranded on the base paths.
I know they have the potential to win well over a hundred games, especially with the combined efforts of Kershaw and Greinke, but it's the other eight on that field that need to start pulling their weight, or come October, they won't have a chance to.
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