By Jon Weisman
With a dynamic offensive display tonight — five home runs, seven extra-base hits and three steals — the Dodgers drove down the Padres, 8-4, and with the seventh straight loss by the Giants, moved a season-high 7½ games ahead in the National League West.
No NL team has a bigger divisional lead than Los Angeles does.
Crawford &
Schebler &
Ruggiano &
Gonzalez &
Utley. pic.twitter.com/0PXjcn7FfZ— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 5, 2015
There were numerous heroes for the Dodgers tonight, but it’s hard not to start with right fielder Scott Schebler. In his second MLB start, Schebler went 2 for 5, took away extra bases from Justin Upton, and became only the third Dodger this century to have a home run (444 feet, in this case) and two stolen bases in the same game, after Shawn Green in 2000 and Matt Kemp in 2010.
Also homering in his third game as a Dodger was 33-year-old Justin Ruggiano, who followed Corey Seager’s RBI forceout* with a two-run, pinch-hit shot in the fifth inning put the Dodgers ahead to stay, 5-3. That’s three guys driving in runs who weren’t on the team five days ago.
Adrian Gonzalez and Chase Utley followed with homers before the inning was over, giving the Dodgers an NL record: six different innings this season with three home runs.
Utley also walked twice, and is now 11 for 47 with four doubles, a triple, two homers, five walks and three hit-by-pitches as a Dodger. That’s a .345 on-base percentage, .489 slugging percentage and .835 OPS since coming to Los Angeles.
Seager also doubled and singled, making him 4 for 9 in his MLB career, while Jimmy Rollins walked twice, stole a base, doubled and singled, making him 2,414 for 9,109 in his MLB career.
Carl Crawford actually hit the longest homer of the night for the Dodgers. Measured at 454 feet, it was the fourth-longest blast by the Dodgers in 2015, and longest by anyone not named Joc Pederson.
Mike Bolsinger had a bit of a weird night in his first start for the Dodgers since July 29. He walked two, struck out six and allowed only two hits, but both were homers, good for three runs in five innings. In all, the teams combined for eight home runs, tying a Petco Park record.
Asher B. Garber
I don’t like to complain about umpires, but I can not believe how dysfunctional they have been at 2nd base so far this series. I understand this is only a game, but Commissioner Rob should take note that, in Kentucky, when officials of the state choose what rules to follow, they end up in jail.
Asher B. Garber
While I’m still on my soapbox, the home field team shouldn’t have the benefit of doubt when their fans mess up a ball in play.
As far as this Dodgers fan goes, Instant Replay stinks.
Mark Hagerstrom
Not sure that NY would have had enough evidence to identify the guy as a Padre fan…
oldbrooklynfan
Riding High.
jpavko
Dosn’t the debut of Schebler make Van Slyke expendable? trade the lumbering oaf for a bucket of baseballs and a used jock strap already!
Mark Hagerstrom
Dodgers are a little short on right handed hitting outfielders right now. SVS has OPS+ 147 against lefties. Schebler is a lefty. So, no.