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Dodgers Vs. Royals Recap: Offense Makes Up For Dan Haren’s Struggles

[new_royalslider id=”199″] The Los Angeles Dodgers sent Dan Haren to the mound against the Kansas City Royals as they looked to win the rubber match and another series. James Shields got the call for the Royals, who were hoping to put up better offensive numbers after being shutout Tuesday.

The Dodgers found themselves down early when Lorenzo Cain began the bottom of the first inning with a solo blast. The home run marked Haren’s ninth consecutive start in which he has allowed a homer.

Matt Kemp responded with a home run of his own to tie the game in the second inning. The Dodgers took the lead in the third behind back-to-back triples from Dee Gordon and Yasiel Puig. Gordon scored on a Shield’s balk and Puig came home on a sacrifice fly to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead in the third.

A double play helped Haren get out of the third, but the Royals scored again on a Mike Moustaskas single in the fourth after A.J. Ellis couldn’t handle a throw from Puig that was somewhat off line. Puit atoned for the off-target throw in the fifth with an RBI double that extended the Dodgers’ lead to 4-2.

Haren then allowed another home run, this time to Jarrod Dyson in the bottom of the fifth. Jamey Wright took over but couldn’t prevent the Royals from tying the game. After a throwing a wild pitch, Wright gave up a grounder that scored Cain.

Wright got himself into a jam in the seventh with two on and no outs but was able to get out of it by retiring the next three batters to keep the game tied.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a leadoff single through the shift to leadoff the eighth inning. He then took third on an Andre Ethier single to left that put runners on the corners with one out. Gonzalez wouldn’t score however as he was caught in a run down on a Justin Turner grounder to the box.

Wade Davis then walked Scott Van Slyke with two outs to load the bases and followed by hitting Ellis with a pitch, that sent a runner home and allowed the Dodgers to take a 5-4 lead. J.P. Howell and Brandon League combined to keep the Dodgers ahead by pitching a scoreless inning.

Gordon hit a leadoff single in the ninth, which was followed by a Puig flyout to deep center and a Gonzalez double play. With Kenley Jansen having pitched in four of the last five days, Brian Wilson got the call to close the game out for the Dodgers.

Wilson struck out the first batter he faced, then allowed a one-out single. Pedro Ciriaco pinch-ran and stole second base with one out. Van Slyke ended the game with a leaping catch on a line drive and doubled up Ciriaco at second to end the game. Wilson earned the save, which was his first since April of 2012.
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