Cespedes Walk-Off Blast Seals Dodger’s Fate

Dodgers 1 3 0 Athletics 4 5 0 WP-Cook-2-1 LP-Lindblom-2-1 HR-Cespedes-7

Boy the Dodgers really suck right now. What else can you really say? The Dodgers were swept in Oakland, and only scored two runs the entire series. Oakland walked-off to beat the Dodgers today 4-1. The Oakland Coliseum is even more creepy and tomb like than I remember. Of course that is fitting because the Dodger offense has died, or is out to lunch. It doesn’t matter who faces us, or where. Journeyman, rookies, no-names all pitch shutouts against us. Lefty journeyman Travis Blackley, was the latest random to blank us. The former Giant, pitched eight innings of one run ball. The Dodger’s pathetic offense could only muster up one run on three hits. Clayton Kershaw did all he could, but he can’t score runs for the team, he can only pitch. Kershaw pitched eight innings allowing just one run on three hits, and whiffed seven, but came out with the game tied at one. Josh Linblom pitched the predictable ninth inning, and blew the tie. Yoenis Cespedes hit a three run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth that banked off of the left field foul pole to give Oakland the three game sweep. This was after a walk, wild pitch, and bunt single, where nobody was covering third base.

The Dodgers scored their lone run in the top of the fourth inning, and only had two base runners after. Rivera doubled in the seventh with two outs, and Matt Treanor walked in the top of the ninth. The Dodgers plated their measly run when Herrera doubled, and Rivera sliced a base hit just fair inside the line in right. Of course Riversa was immediately picked off of first base to halt any further chances of scorage. Not surprisingly the Dodgers Buntscrewed themselves out of another inning in the top of the ninth. You all already are aware of course that bunting only leads to outs, and failures. Blackley did not get the win, that went to reliever Ryan Cook, who pitched the top of the ninth to preserve the tie. James Loney was unable to play today because he had the stomach flu. Juan Rivera started at first base in his place. IDJ was the DH. Here is how the outfest went down, if you are a glutton for punishment, please read on.

Top of the first. Dee Gordon grounds out. Elian Herrera, and Andre Ethier both whiff, and the outfest continues. Bottom of the first. Coco Crisp The little annoying Oakland lead-off hitter reaches on an infield single to shallow third. Uribe charged and made a bare-hand throw, but Crisp beat the throw. Jemile Weeks tries to bunt but pops it up to Rivera for the first out. Kershaw picks off Crisp for the second out, while Yoenis Cespedes fouls out behind home plate to end the inning. Kersh now leads the majors with five pick-offs.

Top of the second. Travis Blackley disposes of the Dodgers quickly in the top of the second. Juan Rivera, Jerry Hairston, and Ivan DeJesus Jr., all ground out to third. Bottom of the second. Jonny Gomes hits a sinking liner to Herrera who tries to dive for the ball, but it bounces off his glove for a double. Kershaw uncorks the obligatory wild pitch that sends Gomes to third. Brandon Inge’s long fly ball to left scores Gomes, and again the Dodgers are in another early hole 1-0. Brandon Moss singles to right. Derek Norris, the rookie catcher, making his MLB debut grounds into an inning ending double play.

Top of the third. Uribe whiffs. Gwynn grounds out. Treanor lines out to Weeks. That’s nine in a row for Blackley.

Move to the top of the fourth. Gordon leads off and softly lines out to short. Herrera doubles into the gap, to finally give the Dodgers their first hit of the afternoon. Ethier grounds out to short, and Herrera can’t advance. With two outs, Rivera smacks a base hit just fair down the right field line. The ball lands just inches fair over Moss’s head. Herrera scores, and the Dodgers finally break through to score, and tie the game at 1-1. Of course with Hairston batting, Rivera is picked off of first base by Blackley, Tootblanning the inning away. Hey I won’t complain though, scoring a run is amazing.

Bottom of the fourth. So Weeks draws a walk. Cespedes flies out deep to center, sending Gwynn back to the warning track. Goes whiffs. Inge walks, but Moss whiffs on fastball in the dirt, and Kershaw and the Dodgers get out of it. The Dodgers roll over again in the top of the fifth. Blackley retiring Hairston, Dejesus, and Uribe in order.

Both pitchers continue to lock horns until the ninth. Kerhsaw retired 13 in a row at one point.

Move to the top of the ninth. With the score still tied at one, reliever Ryan Cook takes over for Blackley to pitch the top of the ninth. Treanor leads of and walks, and the Dodgers finally have a base runner. Here is where the Dodgers predictably bunt screw themselves out of another inning. Gordon lays down what actually was a decent bunt but to the wrong side. The bunt is toward third base, and Cook sprints off the mound and is able to force the incredibley slow Matt Treanor at second. Of course now everyone knows Dee is going to try and steal. He does, he is thrown out. Bravo Dee. Bunt failure, and Base-running failure. Herrera then whiffs to end the frame.

The bottom of the ninth is predictable and sad. Of course the crappy A’s are going to walk off in the ninth. Josh Lindblom on to pitch served up the runs. Crisp walks. Another obligatory wild pitch moves Crisp over to second. Jemile Weeks lays down a bunt towards the third base side of the mound. Lindblom grabs it, goes to throw to third to cut down the lead runner, but nobody is covering the bag. Runners are safe at first and third. The next hitter Cespedes ends the game with a three run home run that dunks off the foul pole.

The Dodgers now have to go to Anaheim to play a three game set with the Angels. Oakland will remain at home and await the Giants for their weekend series. I’m pretty worried right now, but it is not time to panic just yet. The Dodgers still have the best record in the league, and even though lose a half game to the idle Giants, still are four games up.

The thing to remember right now is, they all suck right now. All of them. It’s not like you can point to one or two guys that are stinking up the joint specifically. They all suck balls right now. One run off three hits just is not going to cut it, even against the lowly A’s, or Mariners. The Dodgers need to figure out when Matt Kemp is coming back, or make a trade soon. The lineup is looking worn down and is punch-less.

The Dodgers try and stop the bleeding tomorrow night in Anaheim against the annoying Angels. Chad Billingsley will take the mound for the Dodgers. The Halos will counter with Dan Haren. Join us here tomorrow. No matter what happens guys, we will always be here. We are suffering too. Hitting slumps blow chunks. Oakland is a dump. See you guys tomorrow. Go Blue.