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By Jon Weisman
For the second time in three nights, the Dodgers showed off some bench-clearing brawn.
An eight-run sixth inning, the Dodgers’ biggest single-frame scoring outburst of the season, allowed the Dodgers to rest their starters again in what became an 11-3 victory at Colorado.
With 32 runs in their past three games, Los Angeles reduced its magic number for clinching a National League playoff spot to five and the NL West title to 10 – and stood to whittle off another digit with San Francisco losing to Arizona in the eighth inning, 6-2. Washington remained a half-game ahead of the Dodgers, who have won eight of their past 10 games, for the best record in the NL.
Justin Turner’s pinch-hit, two-run double with somewhere between two and four runners on base broke a 3-3 tie, and the Dodgers poured it on thereafter.
The NL’s best-hitting team with runners in scoring position finished the game 8 for 18 in those situations.
Matt Kemp got the Dodgers on the board in the first inning with a two-run home run. Juan Uribe had three hits, while Dee Gordon, Yasiel Puig, Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez each had two. Carl Crawford became the second Dodger in three nights to be hit by two pitches.
In 30 days of June, the #Dodgers hit 13 home runs. In 15 days of September, the Dodgers have 17 home runs.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 16, 2014
Gonzalez leapfrogged injured Miami outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to take the NL lead in RBI. Gonzalez would be the third Los Angeles Dodger to lead the NL in RBI, after Tommy Davis (1962) and Matt Kemp (2011).
A big moment in the game might be forgotten in the short term but could be meaningful in the long. Paco Rodriguez pitched in his first game since August 3, relieving Roberto Hernandez with the bases loaded and two out, and induced an inning-ending groundout.
Earlier Monday, the Dodgers confirmed following an MRI that Hyun-Jin Ryu would miss his next start, but they are optimistic he’ll be ready to go for any playoff games. Ken Gurnick of MLB.com has more.
oldbrooklynfan
Isn’t it relaxing being four games up again, especially with a single digit magic # of 9?
Don Bright
I really hope Paco can show enough to be on the PO roster. I’ve seen enough of Hernandez, Corriea and Perez not to see them on it. If Ryu can’t go, I’d rather they start Frias over Hernandez, and in fact Frias should be on the roster anyway, along with Baez.
For the NLDS I think they could actually get by with only 3 starters, and 11 pitchers and have an extra bench player, since it’s only a best of 5 series.
P- Kershaw, Greinke, Haren, Jansen, Howell, Wilson, League and Wright are givens (not that I agree with all them, but it is what it is). The other 3 should be, as of right now, Paco, Baez, Frias. Ryu can be left off until the NLCS, and the extra bench player dropped.
For the position players, after the starting 8, the 6 bench spots would be Butera (got to have a backup catcher), Turner, Etheir, SVS are the for sures. The other 2 spots go to either Rojas or Arbueanna (one has to make it to back up Hanley at SS), with Guerrero, Pederson, and even Bernadina in the mix (pinch runner).