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By Jon Weisman
It was a delight while he lasted.
Pitching in his first game in 24 days and making an actual full-fledged start for the first time in exactly a month, Hyun-Jin Ryu shone for the Dodgers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
Ryu only allowed the requisite Matt Carpenter home run over his six innings of work, plus five singles and a walk, while striking out four. And he seemed to only improve after facing his biggest challenge of the ninth.
One out after Carpenter’s leadoff homer in the third, Matt Holliday singled and Jhonny Peralta worked the count to 3-1. At this point in the game, Ryu had thrown 57 pitches and only had eight outs to show for it.
But Ryu struck out Peralta on consecutive changeups, then got Matt Adams to pop out (with Hanley Ramirez making an over-the-shoulder catch in no man’s land).
Ryu needed only 15 pitches total to sail through the next two innings, then finished his night with a perfect sixth. His final 10 outs came on 37 pitches.
At 94 pitches for the night, Ryu perhaps could have worked one more inning, but given the long layoff, the 1-1 tie score and his spot coming up in the top of the seventh, there was no chance of that.
If the Dodgers rally to win the NLDS with victories Tuesday and Thursday, Ryu would be in line to start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on four days’ rest Saturday, unless Claytonn Kershaw made a second consecutive start on three days’ rest.
Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
Agree Ryu was good, better than expected. Too many mistakes by the Dodgers on offense. RISP we were 1 for ?? Ebert’s time to blow up. Dodgers still do not have a strategy for Carpenter. Old school purists know what needs to be done, but this regime can’t figure it out.
trublu4ever
Time for a new regime!
artieboy
Old school purists say pitch until you are done. Modern day thinking is protect your pitchers at all costs even if it costs you all that you’ve worked for all season. Oh well… Good playoff game.
Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
Brilliant analysis!!
Asher B. Garber
Can’t blame management for leaving runners on base in scoring position.
trublu4ever
Putting Elbert in…..leaving Kershaw in too long…..taking Zack and Ryu out too early …. not changing lineup a bit.,,,,,Puig is cold, AJ is hot…..MANAGEMENT!
Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
Agree with your comments. Plus as I stated previously need to put a ball in Carpenters ribs. Worst case pitch around the dude!!!!!
oldbrooklynfan
I don’t think anybody could expect all those decisions to go wrong, TB4ever.
artieboy
“There was no chance of that”…during the regular season yes….during the post season absolutely the wrong decision.
Al Kenderes (@Coach__K)
Why not? Cardinals did it to Hanley last year and got away with it.
artieboy
I was referring to the quote about needing to pull Ryu. During the regular season OK but not during the post season.
oldbrooklynfan
Right now, Mattingly has no choice but to go down with (the ship) his big gun Clayton Kershaw. It is his only chance to give his best shot at keeping this 2014 NLDS alive.