Monday, May 30, 2016

Dodgers Rally for 4-2 Win Over Mets After Blowing Lead in Eighth (VIDEO)

The Dodgers have been on ESPN a couple of times in the last couple of weeks, and then Fox Sports West had the Angels/Dodgers freeway series on the air recently as well.

The Angels might not be contending for a playoff spot this year. They're struggling. Hopefully I'll be able to see a lot of Dodgers games then. They definitely have a shot, especially with ace starter Clayton Kershaw.

Here's the Los Angeles Times on last night's come-from-behind win:

Adrian Gonzalez stopped a few feet from first base, turned toward the Dodgers dugout and pumped his fist. With one swing, he had rescued his manager.

Standing on the steps in the ninth inning of a 4-2 victory, Dave Roberts saluted his first baseman. He would not wear the weight of a defeat. His team flew to Chicago late Sunday evening with six victories in the last seven games after capturing this series over the Mets.

“These guys are resilient,” Roberts said. “There’s been some adversity earlier. They’re banding together. They’re not letting a lot of things affect them.”

The offense provided a swift answer after a pitching change by Roberts backfired. In the eighth inning of the 51st game of the season, Roberts visited Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the first time in his managerial career. The two men did not have a conversation.

Kershaw fumed into his glove as Roberts informed the umpire about his call to the bullpen. Kershaw clutched the baseball in his left hand, aware that his ownership of the evening would soon end. He looked away from Roberts as he bequeathed control. The Dodgers (27-24) would soon pay for his departure.

With two outs and left-handed hitter Curtis Granderson batting, Roberts took the baseball away from Kershaw, the sport’s finest pitcher. He did not hand it to closer Kenley Jansen, who was warmed up in the bullpen. Roberts chose left-hander Adam Liberatore.

Liberatore surrendered a game-tying triple. The hit diminished the line on Kershaw, who went 72/3 innings, gave up two runs, struck out 10 and walked none. But Mets closer Jeurys Familia stumbled for the second time this weekend in the top of the ninth inning. With the bases loaded, Gonzalez stroked a 99-mph fastball into center field to reclaim the lead.

“There was no emotional letdown,” Gonzalez said...
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