LA Dodgers top rival SF Giants with Kershaw beating Bumgarner on Jackie Robinson day- April 2016
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It was Jackie Robinson night at Dodger Stadium before a sell out crowd with all the players wearing #42 in his honor. This will be a memorable season during Vin Scully’s final year with the team. 67 years. Incredible! The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants continued for the first game of this 3 game series with Bumgarner taking on Kershaw in a rematch of last weekend. Ironically, that was the only game the Dodgers won in the 4 game series and only because Kelly Tomlinson booted a game ending double play or it would have been a sweep as LA won in 10 innings. In this game in front of a sell out crowd, the Dodgers got off to a quick start when Kiki Hernandez led off the game with a first pitch HR (his first leadoff HR ever). The Giants tied it when who else but Bumgarner led off with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Then, Hernandez did it again launching another HR to make it 2-1 (his first multip-HR game ever). In the 4th inning, the Dodgers blew it open thanks again to Tomlinson, who made another error on a double play grounder. Joe Panik also mishandled a grounder and Brian Culberon hit a 2 run single and Hernandez a 2 run double with the bases loaded on the first pitch again. The Giants played terribly and Tomlinson also was not covering second base after Culberson’s single or he could have tagged the runner off second. Bumgarner looked out of it as well not mixing it up vs. Hernandez. It was 6-1 after 4 innings. The final was 7-3 as San Francisco didn’t have enough firepower to comeback especially vs. Kershaw. Injuries early in the season are giving some opportunities to some players such as Hernandez. Carl Crawford and Andre Eithier are on the DL and Howie Kendrick just came off the DL. If the pitching can hold together, the team looks good to make a run at the division title. The setup late inning pitching situation is a cause for concern. The starters have looked good and the everyday lineup is solid. New Manager Dave Roberts provides great energy and a spark for the team. Up next is Cueto vs. Kazmir tomorrow night for game 2 of the series. More at www.dodgers.com |