Dodgers Slide Past Nats with Comeback Win
It was bound to happen at some point!
Alex Wood and the Dodgers (9-10) looked for their second straight series win tonight taking on Jeremy Hellickson and the Washington Nationals (10-11) at Dodger Stadium. Wood, who still has yet to earn a win this season, is pitching better than his 0-2 record indicates with a 3.91 ERA and 0.739 WHIP through 4 games. Hellickson, who also has not yet won a game, is 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.714 WHIP through only one game so far this season.
2nd Inning
It would be the Nationals who would get on the board first that began with a lead-off double by first baseman, Ryan Zimmerman. Michael A. Taylor would come to the plate next and single to right field advancing Zimmerman to third base in the process. Following a strike out to Moises Sierra, Pedro Severino would hit a sac-fly to score Zimmerman and put the Nats up 1-0.
4th Inning
Michael A. Taylor would lead off the top of the fourth with a solo home run and increase the lead to 2-0.
6th Inning
It would be Taylor again who would get things going for the Nats with a one-out double down the left field line. Wood would attempt a pick-off but would overthrow Chase Utley at second base sending the ball into center field and allowing Taylor to advance to third. Sierra would then hit a sac-fly to score Taylor and improve the lead to 3-0. Wood would finish off the inning but would be done for the night, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 1 walk while striking out 4.
Hellickson would get pinch-hitter Austin Barnes to fly out to start the bottom of the 6th, which would be his 14th consecutive batter retired since Corey Seager‘s double in the first inning. Fortunately, Chris Taylor would end the runner-less streak by roping a double down the left field line. Seager would draw a walk on four pitches to bring Yasmani Grandal to the plate. Grandal would improve his hitting streak to 11 games by scorching a ground ball double past first base that would score both Taylor and Seager to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Grandal’s double would end the night for Hellickson as Sammy Solis would enter the game looking to stop the Dodgers’ rally. Unfortunately for the Nats, the Dodgers would take advantage of their NL worst-ERA bullpen as Cody Bellinger would come to the plate and crush a double off the wall in center field to score Grandal and tie the game 3-3.
7th Inning
Josh Fields would toss a scoreless 7th inning despite allowing a lead-off walk to Wilmer Difo who would advance to third on a base hit by Andrew Stevenson; however, Stevenson would be tagged out trying to advance to second on the play and Difo would be stranded following back-to-back called strike-three’s on Trea Turner and Howie Kendrick.
With one out in the bottom of the 7th, Barnes would be hit by a pitch and would advance to third on a single by Taylor. Seager would then hit a deep fly ball that would score Barnes and give the Dodgers their first lead of the game, 4-3.
Unfortunately, the rally would end there as Taylor, who was called safe stealing second, would be out after replay “confirmed” that Trea Turner tagged the ground near Taylor to end the inning. I guess on Earth Day the ground counts as part of a player’s body.
9th Inning
Tony Cingrani and Pedro Baez would pitch a combined scoreless 8th as the 4-3 lead would be taken into the top of the 9th. Kenley Jansen entered the game trying to close things out and would struggle early, surrendering back-to-back singles to Matt Adams and Wilmer Difo. Jansen would settle in, however, and get back-to-back strike outs to Stevenson and Turner. Former Dodger, Howie Kendrick, would bat next and hit a deep fly ball to center but it would be caught by Taylor and end the game.
The Dodgers (10-10) have now won back-to-back series and have, finally, won their first come-from-behind game this season. Despite their slow start, the Boys in Blue now have a .500 record and, surprisingly, have a better record through the first 20 games compared to last season when they started 9-11. They will look to continue their impressive play as Walker Buehler takes the mound for the first time this season facing Jarlin Garcia and the struggling Miami Marlins (5-16) tomorrow night at 7:10pm PST at Dodger Stadium.
BakoBoyInBlue
