Dodgers 7 Rockies 4: Grandal Saves the Day

The Dodgers fell behind early, but a huge seventh-inning grand slam was the difference as they took the opener against the Rockies.

The Dodgers had another come-from-behind victory in game one against Colorado. Their starter didn’t pitch deep into the game, but the bullpen kept them in it and the offense broke out in a big way.

Dodgers Starter

Brett Anderson got the ball for only the third time this season. He made two starts in August before hitting the DL again, but is back in time to try and win a postseason start.

Anderson actually cruised through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second. Carlos Gonzalez led off with a single, and Nick Hundley doubled to left. It probably should have been second and third, but Josh Reddick had some issues picking up the ball in left and a run scored on an error. A single put runners on the corners and a walk loaded the bases. Daniel Descalso hit a sac fly to make it 2-0, and a bunt and an infield single made it 3-0.

Anderson recovered nicely and got through the fifth, but he did allow a fourth run in the fifth on a DJ LeMahieu solo homer. However, for the first time this season he completed five innings.

His final line wasn’t pretty, but this was the best that Anderson has looked this season. Other than the horrible second inning, Anderson looked pretty solid. I’ve always been a fan of his, but I’d definitely hope he’s not on the postseason roster.

Anderson made 72 pitches and allowed six hits and four runs in five innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Dodgers Offense

The last time Tyler Chatwood pitched at Dodger Stadium, he allowed one hit in eight innings. Of course, this time Chase Utley hit his first pitch into left center for a single.

The Dodgers got a second hit (and a run, even) in the second inning on Yasmani Grandal‘s 26th homer of the season. Evan Gattis is the only catcher with more dingers than Grandal.

The Dodgers had a baserunner in each of the first four innings, but their only run came on the homer. After a 1-2-3 fifth, they scratched another run in the sixth thanks to some shoddy defense. Adrian Gonzalez hit a bullet at Stephen Cardullo that he couldn’t handle, and Grandal hit a double to left that was misplayed by David Dahl. Reddick hit a broken bat nubber past the pitchers mound that plated the run, but Chatwood escaped with no further damage.

Things got interesting in the seventh. Down 4-2, Andre Ethier led off with a pinch-hit ground rule double. Boone Logan came in and got Justin Turner to fly out, but walked Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager to load the bases. Gonzalez drew another walk to bring home a run, and Grandal broke the game open with a grand slam to put the Dodgers up 7-4.

Dodgers Bullpen

Josh Ravin got the sixth inning and didn’t allow a baserunner. Andrew Toles had to make a couple nice plays in left, but Ravin hasn’t allowed a baserunner in his last five innings.

Luis Avilan followed suit in the seventh with a perfect inning. Avilan’s allowed baserunners, but hasn’t allowed a run in his last five outings. With a bunch of lefty relief candidates for the postseason bullpen, every perfect inning for Avilan helps his chances of making an impact in October.

Joe Blanton had a very strange eighth inning. He allowed a leadoff single, but struck Nolan Arenado out on a terribly high pitch. Carlos Gonzalez clobbered a ball right at Gonzalez, who knocked it down and turned an unassisted double play thanks to a huge brain fart by LeMahieu at first to end the inning.

Kenley Jansen got the ninth and picked up two strikeouts in a perfect inning. Pay him, please.

Other Stuff

The magic number is down to four as the Giants held on to beat the Padres. The lead in the West remains at six with nine games remaining.