Dodgers News: Dodgers Hitting Stride at Right Time, Giants Slumping
Since dropping the first game in the month of September, the Dodgers have won five straight games including a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The club now sits at five games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the National League West division.
Rich Hill: The Journeyman Has Reached His DestinationThe Dodgers will look to continue their string of good fortune as they travel to Miami to start a three-game set with the Marlins, before starting series in New York with the Yankees on Monday.
In the first game of the series the Dodgers scored 10 runs in what many believed would be their most difficult matchup against former Cy Young Award winner and former Dodger Zack Greinke.
First baseman Adrian Gonzalzez opened the scoring for the game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the home run AGon moved into a tie with Todd Helton for the second most home runs against the DBacks, only behind Barry Bonds.
[graphiq id=”g1JoAypConj” title=”Adrian Gonzalez Career Batting Triple Slash” width=”640″ height=”494″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/g1JoAypConj” link=”http://baseball-players.pointafter.com/l/6072/Adrian-Gonzalez” link_text=”Adrian Gonzalez Career Batting Triple Slash | PointAfter” ]From that point on the Dodgers would not let up.
Center fielder Joc Pederson, shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Justin Turner and catcher Yasmani Grandal all followed up Gonzo with home runs of their own in the next frame. The Dodgers would chase Greinke after just 4 2/3 innings pitched, in which he allowed nine hits and eight earned runs.
The following night the Dodgers would add more salt to the DBacks’ wounds. Shelby Miller to be precise.
Miller was 2-10 heading into the game, but matters would only get worse.
Ross Stripling five innings, allowing three hits and two earned runs. He also went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
After a shut down ninth inning from Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers would come away with a 5-2 win. Jansen notched his 42 save of the year.
In the series finale the Dodgers sent yet another rookie to the mound in Brock Stewart. Watch here.
Stewart would not disappoint, he allowed one earned run on just two hits in five innings. The Dodgers would go on to win 3-1 and give Stewart his first career win in the bigs.
We are only eight days into the month of the September and the Dodgers have ruled the headlines. Between Yasiel Puig being called back up to the majors, Jose De Leon making his big league debut and the looming return of Clayton Kershaw back to the rotation the Boys in Blue look to be in good shape heading into the postseason.
[graphiq id=”8YR3vccysl” title=”NL West Standings” width=”550″ height=”624″ url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/8YR3vccysl” link=”http://mlb-teams.pointafter.com” link_text=”NL West Standings | PointAfter” ]Right as the Dodgers are hitting their stride at just the right time, while their biggest division rival seems to be slipping further and further out of the playoff race.
The Giants had the best record in baseball at the All-Star break at 57-33. Since then, the team is 17-32 and are fastly approaching what may be the biggest collapse in recent memory for the club.
The Dodgers look primed to claim the NL West crown and with the team gaining a lion’s share of their roster back, the Giants may have trouble on their hands.
Recap: Yasiel Puig Homers in 3-1 Victory Over Diamondbacks
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