Zack Greinke, Bullpen Combine For Shutout To Sweep Reds
Greinke allowed his first walk of the day to Jay Bruce to start off the bottom of the fifth inning. On the first pitch to Jason Bourgeois, Bruce stole second base on a tailing throw from Grandal, putting him into scoring position. After battling each other for seven pitches, Greinke struck out the center fielder on a slider to record the first out. Barnhart, who singled in his first at-bat, blooped a fading single towards left field to put runners on the corners with one out. DeSclafani then failed to bunt over the runner for the second time in the game to put two outs on for Schumaker. For the second time in three at-bats and the seventh in the game for Greinke, Schumaker struck out on a breaking ball to help Greinke escape his toughest inning of work.
The Dodger offense went down without any runs in the top of the sixth.
The bottom of the sixth inning proved to be crucial for Greinke, as he would have to face the heart of the order. The pitcher got Frazier to pop up on the first pitch of the at-bat, but then followed with a walk to Bruce. With Phillips up to the plate, the second baseman hit a fly ball to right field that was sailing with the wind. On a second adjustment, Puig sprinted towards the foul line to make the second out of the inning. Eugenio Suarez ended the inning by striking out on a slider, marking the eighth of the game for Greinke.
The Dodgers went down in order in the seventh inning, as Grandal grounded into his third double play of the day, a career-high for the third-year player. DeSclafani found his groove after a rough start, allowing him to retire the side consecutively for the first time in the game. Unfortunately for the Reds starter, he opposed the leading candidate for the Cy Young award this season, with Greinke continuing to remain dominant. After a one out single by Bourgeois, Barnhart flew out to left field on the first pitch he saw. With two outs, Brayan Pena pinch-hit for the pitcher and struck out to end the seventh inning.
Both Pederson and Rollins recorded walks in the top half of the eight inning, putting Chase Utley at the plate with runners on first and second. However, a pitch hit Utley for the second time in the game to load the bases for Van Slyke with one out. Utley has now been hit a pitch three times in the past two games, an unlucky sequence for the newly acquired player. The inning would end on a tough note, as Van Slyke grounded into the fifth double play of the day for the Dodgers, squandering an opportunity for some insurance runs for the team.
Chris Hatcher relieved Greinke and was able to retire the side in order.
In the top of the ninth, the Dodgers loaded the bases off Aroldis Chapman with a walk, an error and an infield single by Puig. However, Puig came out of the game after running out the infield hit. Grandal struck out and then Pederson and pinch-hitter Alex Guerrero fouled out to end the inning.
Jim Johnson came in for the bottom of the ninth and closed out the game to complete the three-game sweep.
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One constant that started from the beginning of the season and continues to this very day, the Dodgers do not beat good teams. Can you imagine if they played more teams with above 500 records? They’d be in the cellar.
If only the Dodgers had canned Mattingly, and hired Maddon…it was a no brainer. The F.O. has passed, or missed too many “no-brainers”. There is too much talent in this team for them not to be crushing every opponent. Everything about this organization sucks. I guess I could lie down and say they beat the teams they’re supposed to, but Dodger Fan can fuggedabout a World Series appearance, it’s not gonna happen with these coaches, and this style of play.
Thanks Time/Warner and the F.O. no-brainer trust. A bad T.V. deal and an organization who spends it’s money in the wrong places. I guess you deserve each other. Unfortunately Dodgers fans didnt!