Hello,
On Tuesday the Dodgers did something they haven't done for a long time, they scored a lot of runs. After scoring 1, 3, 2, 3, 3 and 1 run in their 6 previous games, LA exploded for 9 runs. LA also beat the team closest to them in the NL West, the Diamondbacks, and were able to reduce their magic number to 2. LA can clinch the NL West on Wednesday with another victory over Arizona.
Of course it helps the Dodgers offense when they have two of their best players playing for the first time in a while. Matt Kemp last started a game on July 21st and last played when he ineffectively pinch hit Monday night. But Kemp reintroduced himself in a big way last night. He was 4 for 4 and raised his batting average to .275. He also had 3 more RBIs and now has 30 RBIs this season. I think LA can win the World Series without him, but obviously I'd prefer to have Kemp in the Dodgers lineup.
Remember the last time Kemp came back from injury he had a monster game, unfortunately at the end of that game he injured himself. He has been out since then. Thankfully he didn't injure himself on Tuesday night and I thought it was prudent that Don Mattingly didn't have him play the whole game. Kemp has been a little fragile this season. I hope the Dodgers take the slow but steady method of reintegrating Kemp into the team.
Also Hanley Ramirez was back after he missed 4 games, he has also been a bit fragile this year. He had another good game, he was only 1 for 2 but he earned 3 walks. He was on base 4 times and he scored 3 runs. Ramirez is hitting .343 this season, leading the Dodgers in that category. He's second on the team in on base percentage, his is .397. He only trails Yasiel Puig, who's at .401 OBP.
Although the Dodgers had 12 hits, Puig didn't have any of those hits. After his incredibly torrid start, he's cooled down considerably. He was 0 for 5 and his batting average is still great at .331.
Zack Greinke had the kind of game that I was hoping that he would have. He was very good in his six innings, giving up 6 hits and only 2 runs. He added 5 strikeouts, improves to 15-3 and lowers his ERA to 2.75. I hear Clayton Kershaw's name mentioned a lot in the Cy Young chase, but shouldn't Greinke also be getting some love?
Wednesday night the Dodgers will play the Diamondbacks in the third game of this four game series. The teams have split the first two games. Pitching tonight for the Dodgers to clinch the NL West will be none other than ... Stephen Fife (4-3, 3.38 ERA). He's scheduled to face off against Brandon McCarthy (4-9, 4.58 ERA). Kershaw was suppose to pitch Wednesday, but his start was pushed back to Saturday to give him more rest. I whole heartedly agree with that as I want the Dodgers to be as ready as possible for the playoffs.
I'm so giddy the Dodgers are going to the playoffs! And as always thanks to ESPN for all the great information from their website that I use in my blogs.
themusicaddict
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