LA Dodgers beat world series rival champions SF Giants in the first month of the 2015 season- April 27th

 

The LA Dodgers took on their rival sf Giants to start a three game series at Chavez ravine. Brett Anderson vs. Tim Lincecum were the starters It started out as a pitchers duel with two spectacular defensive plays by each team. New center field ear Joc Pederson made an outstanding running catch against the wall on a blast of Angel Pagan and turned it into a double play getting leadoff hitter Aoki on the return throw to first. Giants right fielder Justin Maxwell, filling in for the injured Hunter Pence robbed Jimmy Rollins to save two runs from scoring on a diving catch..

 

 

The Dodgers got to Lincecum with four runs in the top of the third with rbi hits by Kendrick, Uribe and Pederson The Giants got three back in the top of the fifth to chase Anderson with Aoki, Panik and Pagen getting rbi hits before rookie Peterson hit his third home run of the season. It stayed 5-3 until the bottom of the 8th when pinch hitter and utility man extraordinaire Justin Turner blasted a 3 run HR on the first pitch he saw to blow the game open. It was his first home run of the season and first ever pinch hit home run. Carlos Frias got the win in relief before a crowd of 46,704 on Don Drysdale pin night.

 

 

The Dodgers lead the division despite many early season injuries and they just found out that starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy will be lost for the season as he hurt his elbow in his last start. Yasiel Puig was also just put on the disabled list (DL) and Carl Crawford hurt his side when running out a triple in this game and had to be taken out. With 7 pitchers on the DL and Kershaw not pitching up to his usual self with only one win, it is amazing the team is where they are. A big part of their success has come from Adrian Gonzales, Bowie Kendrick and Zack Greinke, all lighting up the stat sheets in their respective categories. They came into this game with a 11-7 record while the Giants are having a tough time at 8-11 after winning their third World Series in the last five years last year.

 

 

The big match-up on Tuesday pits Kershaw vs. World Series map Madison Bumgarner. The Dodgers biggest challenge this year could be the San Diego Padres and staying healthy as they have an all around great team. Another nice surprise has been rookie Alex Guerrero from Cuba as he has come up with some big hits and is hitting .500 going 11-22 with 5 HR’s so far this season.

 

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