By Jon Weisman
What’s not to like about a Dodger intrasquad game? No matter what happens, you’re a winner.
Hyun Jin-Ryu allowed two home runs in the first inning today, his team never got the lead back — and the Dodgers still won.
Dee Gordon hit a leadoff homer off Ryu, and then Hanley Ramirez followed a Juan Uribe double with a two-run shot, as the Dodgers’ Team Wills, drafted by Matt Kemp, defeated the Zack Grienke-drafted Team Koufax, 3-1.
Matt Magill was the winning pitcher in the four-inning affair, with Brian Wilson striking out two in his inning of work. For closing it out, Chris Perez earned a save by my reckoning.
Scott Van Slyke had two hits to lead all platesmen, driving in Yasiel Puig (who doubled) with one of them.
More details on the game are available from Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A. and J.P. Hoornstra of the Daily News. From Hoornstra:
… Gordon turned quickly on the second pitch he saw from Ryu and skied it over the right-field fence. “I got lucky,” Gordon said afterward. …
Hoornstra added that Alex Guerrero might have had the best defensive play of the game, “charging a ground ball to second base and throwing on the run, across his body, to retire Nick Buss.”
From Stephen:
… What stood out in the four-inning contest was how much fun the players were having, finally out on the field in a quasi-competitive setting, free from the shackles of pitching screens, batting cages, and even coaches. …
Tommy Dieterich
How is the headline not “Dee Gordon hits a homerun”?
oldbrooklynfan
Gordon doesn’t look much heavier to me in that photo above but I’m hoping it helps him at the plate and he gets on more often. That is if the team will need him much this season. He may make for some excirement coming off the bench. Good luck to him making it as the starting 2nd baseman.