Los Angeles Dodgers Game Recaps: Dodgers Score Early, Sweep Seattle on Jackie Robinson Day

The best way to honor Jackie Robinson on Jackie Robinson day is to play good Baseball and win. The Dodgers honored Jackie the right way on the anniversary of his first MLB game with a 5-2 victory over Seattle to complete a three game sweep at Dodger Stadium in the 2015 civil right’s game.

Mariners 2 8 1

Dodgers 5 9 1

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LP-Walker-0-2

HR-Cruz

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The Dodgers didn’t need a come from behind walk-off this time to win. Instead they staked starting pitcher Brett Anderson to three runs early. For just the third time all year, the Dodgers did not allow any first inning runs, and used a chunky three run bottom of the first inning to take an early 3-0 lead. They would never look back from that.

The Dodgers made some roster moves before the game. Tuesday night’s starter left hander David Huff was designated for assignment. Right hander Carlos Frias was called up from Oklahoma City to take his roster spot. It is unknown whether Frias will make the next scheduled start in Ryu’s rotation spot. The Dodgers also claimed minor league pitcher lefty Ryan Dennick. They immediately optioned him to the minors.

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Yasiel Puig was still nursing a sore hamstring, and was not in the lineup Wednesday night. He is expected to start on Friday night in the Colorado series. Left fielder Carl Crawford was also out of the lineup because of a jammed ankle, suffered last night on the bases. So Andre Ethier would play in right field. Scott Van Slyke was in left.

Anderson started out well, but lost it around the fifth and sixth innings. Overall the left hander allowed two runs, one earned on six hits over five frames. He walked one and struck out three. The Dodgers would use four relievers to pitch the last four innings. Once again, the bullpen would come through with flying colors.

Anderson’s mound opponent Taijan Walker was not so fortunate. The Dodgers lit him up like a Christmas tree. Walker would allow five runs on six hits across four innings. He walked four and struck out three.

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The Dodgers scored three runs in the first, one run in the second and one run in the third. After the third inning the Dodgers would get three hits, but not score. Scott Van Slyke had two hits and a two-run double. The Dodgers added additional runs on RBI singles from Ethier, Adrian Gonzalez, and Joc Pederson. Gonzalez, and Ethier also had two hits.

Joc Pederson had a great game in center field. He made a diving catch on a sinking liner in the second inning to rob Mike Zunino of a base hit. He then threw out a runner at the plate in the top of the fifth, to deny the Mariners of a run. Who was the runner? You guessed it, Mike Zunino. Other than robbing Zunino all game, Pederson also contributed at the plate with an RBI single, and three walks.

A key play in the game came when Robinson Cano made a very costly tootblan. Standing at third base with a man on second and nobody at first, he forgot how many men were on base. So after a walk to Logan Morrison that actually loaded the bases, Cano tried to trot home. The Dodgers alertly tagged him out as he tried to go back to third. The embarrassing base running blunder cost the Mariners a crucial run in the top of the sixth inning.

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Annoying slugger Nelson Cruz hit another home run in the sixth inning. The solo shot got Seattle on the board. That was Cruz’s fifth consecutive game with a home run, and his fourth of the series. Don Mattingly used some interesting bullpen machinations, but everything worked as the Dodgers held on for a 5-2 win.

In the bottom of the first, after Anderson finally gave the Dodgers a scoreless top half of the first, Yasmani Grandal reaches base on a one-out single. After Gonzo flied to center, Kendrick walks to put runners at first and second. Ethier immediately singles to left scoring Grandal to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Van Slyke followed with a double off the wall in left to plate two more runs, putting the Dodgers up by a 3-0 score.

The Dodgers score another run in the bottom of the second. Pederson reaches on a walk to lead-off, and steals second. However, he pops up on the slide and is tagged out by Cano. But Walker would struggle with his command and walk three in the inning. It would come back to haunt him. After Anderson whiffs, Rollins and Grandal walk. Gonzalez follows with a scorching line drive single that deflects off of Morrison’s glove and bounces into right field. Rollins will score to give the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.

Anderson has another 123 inning in the top of the third. The Dodgers score yet another run in the bottom half of the third. Ethier is hit by a pitch in the elbow. Then Uribe’s one-out single into center sends Dre to second.  Pederson singles to right to score Ethier and the Dodgers go up 5-0.

That would be enough for the boys in blue. In the top of the fourth, after consecutive line drive outs, Cruz homers again. The score is now 5-1. Kyle Seager singles, but Anderson gets Morrison to whiff to end the inning.

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In the top of the fifth inning, good defense bails Anderson out of what could have been a disaster inning. Zunino leads-off with a ground rule double. Miller lines out to Van Slyke for the first out. Pinch-hitter Justin Ruggiano singles to center, and Pederson comes up throwing to nail Zunino at the plate. Gunsmoke!

Anderson whiffs Rickie Weeks to get out of the inning. The Mariners don’t score!

The Dodgers threatened in the bottom of the fifth. Ethier and Van Slyke lead-off the frame with consecutive singles, but Uribe’s double play grounder ruins the Dodger’s chances of scoring.

Anderson begins to lose it in the top of the sixth. Austin Jackson reaches on a rare fielding miscue from Gonzalez. He dropped a throw from Kendrick. Then Cano singles to right, and Anderson walks Cruz to load the bases. Mattingly hooks Anderson and brings in Paco Rodriguez. Paco gets Seager to ground to first, which brings home the second run of the game for Seattle.

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Now with runners at second and third, Paco walks Morrison which loads the bases. Cano however forgets how many men are on base, and after ball four to Morrison, starts to trot home with what he thinks is the third run for Seattle. The Dodgers alertly tag him out. This is a huge break for the Dodgers. A Zunino force out ends the inning, and the Dodgers are still up 5-2.

Paco stays out for one hitter in the top of the seventh. After he gets his man, Mattingly brings in Chris Hatcher, who looks good striking out Willie Bloomquist and Weeks.

With the Dodgers still up 5-2 in the eighth, Pedro Baez comes in to pitch. He gives up singles to Cano and Cruz, but gets Seager to fly out and Morrison to ground out to preserve the Dodger lead. 

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Move to the top of the ninth. The Dodgers are still up 5-2, and Baez is still on the mound. He whiffs Zunino swinging for the first out. Then Mattingly brings in left hander J.P. Howell to get the last two outs. Howell does his job, getting Brad Miller to whiff. Then he retires Dustin Ackley on a grounder to second. Dodgers win 5-2, and sweep Seattle!

The Dodgers are now 6-3 on the season, and have won four in a row. We also learned before the game that the Dodgers will build a statue of Jackie Robinson somewhere at Dodger Stadium. Now that is a fitting way to honor the legendary Pioneer. The Dodgers honored him in an even better way on Wednesday night. They won.

The Dodgers get Thursday off to rest, and then the Colorado Rockies come into Dodger Stadium for a three game weekend set. Kyle Kendrick will counter Clayton Kershaw in the series opener Friday night at 7:10 PM.

Go Blue!