Dodgers top Nationals in wild game featuring Strausburg, Harper’s Debut and Kemp Walkoff (5/12)
Dodgers top Nationals in wild game featuring Strausburg, Harper’s Debut and Kemp Walkoff (5/12)
Written by Todd Elliot and Forrest Graef and Photos by Forrest Graef.
Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
One of the most exciting Dodger games in recent memory ended with Matt Kemp’s walk off homer in the bottom of the 10 thinning in front 54,242 in attendance. Kemp’s 11 thHR is the new Dodger record for April home runs set by Gary Sheffield in 2000. The Dodgers hosted the Nationals, both with 14-6 records heading into the game, to take sole possession of 1 stplace in the NL. The much-touted Stephen Strausburg lived up to expectations as one of the game’s best pitchers with great velocity and control while the MLB debut for Bryce Harper had both Dodger and National fans applauding his first MLB hit, a double to deep center in the top of the 7 th. Strasburg was leading 1-0 heading to the bottom of the 7 thafter Chad Billingsley gave up a 368 feet HR off the bat of Adam LaRoche in the top of the 7 th. AJ Ellis tied it up on a RBI single to score Jerry Hairston, who was hit by a pitch. An error by ex-Long Beach St. standout Danny Espinosa on James Loney’s grounder and Wilson Ramos failing to hold on to a great throw by Harper was the way it had to happen for the Dodgers to tie it. Billingsley pitched 7 strong innings giving up 5 hits and one earned run to keep the game close.
The Nationals took the lead again in the 9 thon Harper’s sac fly and then Ramos added an RBI single to make it 3-1. Javy Guerra (IP 0.2) 2 hits, 1 ER increased his ERA to 6.10. La entered the bottom of the 9 thvs. Henry Rodriquez, who was 5-5 with a zero ERA entering the game. He has taken over the closer role with Drew Storen and Brad Lidge both on the DL. Rodriquez was impressive and ugly at the same time getting up to 104 mph on the radar gun as he averages 98 mph on his fastball. However, 3 hits and 3 wild pitches later gave LA 2 runs to tie it and go into extra innings. Why Tom Gorzelanny was allowed to stay in the game and face Matt Kemp to start off the 10 thbaffled me. After getting ahead 1-2, he grooved a pitch that Kemp deposited 423 feet way in dead center in front of the frenzy crowd while they cheered MVP, MVP, MVP.
What a wild game on Don Drysdale/Maury Wills bobblehead day. Both sides had great things to say about Strasburg and Kemp while there was a huge media focus on Harper, who looked cool and calm after being the #1 pick in the 2010 baseball draft.
2012 Dodgers Season Preview
Now that Magic Johnson is the face of the consortium that owns the $2 billion Dodgers, fans are happy, players are happy and the City of Los Angeles continues to celebrate the changing of the guard. What can we expect from this monumental transaction that makes the Dodgers the most expensive franchise in sports history? Expect the players to be focused on baseball, just simple baseball.
Don Mattingly has a simple approach to managing the variations in talent by not demanding more than what a player is capable of delivering. By not putting that kind of pressure on a player that’s making a comeback, or a youthful player trying to solidify a long term contract, players get to relax and simply play baseball. The idea is there will be more growth and production.
Of course, the Dodgers will be showcasing their two superstars, Matt Kemp and Clayton Kershaw, and are counting on Andre Ethier to be more consistent after the all star break. Dodgers fans can expect the same subpar play from first baseman James Loney and third baseman Juan Uribe, at least with their bats. The addition of A.J. Ellis, Juan Rivera and Mark Ellis slightly improves the Dodgers, but hardly makes the news. A major key to the Dodgers success will be the ability of speedster Dee Gordon to get on base, distract pitchers and produce lots of runs.
The 2012 starting rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano will do a decent job collectively. Pitching Coach Rick Honeycutt will be busy figuring out how to get Billingsley to pitch consistently as well as getting Harang and Capuano to pitch deep into games. The bullpen did not improve; however, Kenley Jansen and Javy Guerra will be counted on to close out games — Jansen the likely closer as the season progresses.
The weak competition, financial backing of the new ownership, player morale on the rise along with the likelihood of big time acquisitions before the trade deadline and in the upcoming off-season put the Dodgers on the right path – Attendance will be up in 2012.