Hallelujah! The Dodgers Win!

Dodgers 7 14 1

Marlins 1 5 0

WP- Ryu (4-2)

LP- Slowey (1-3)

HR- Gordon (1), Olivo (3)

The Dodgers finally snapped an ugly eight-game losing streak on Saturday night against Miami at Dodger Stadium. Thanks to a four hit night by Andre Ethier, a homerun by Dee Gordon, three RBIs from Skip Schumaker, a couple of diving highlight reel catches from Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier, and some great pitching from Hyun-jin Ryu and the Dodger bullpen, the Dodgers FINALLY win! It was Bark at the Park night at Dodger Stadium, and the last thing the pooches wanted to see was another Dodger loss. The fans were sure howling as the Dodgers played aggressively and surged offensively to take game two of the three game series. Let’s put that depressing losing streak behind us, Dodger fans!

The Dodger Dogs brought good luck on Bark at the Park night. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Hyun-jin Ryu opens the game with promise as he retires the Marlins quickly in order on twelve pitches in the first inning.

Adrian Gonzalez singles to right with two outs in the bottom half of the first inning, but Kevin Slowey induces a groundout from Matt Kemp to end the frame.

Other than a two-out walk to Miguel Olivo, Ryu retires the Fish on three groundballs to Dee Gordon at shortstop for a scoreless inning in the top of the second.

Andre Ethier leads off the bottom of the second with a double. Ruggiano bumbles the ball a bit in center. A.J. Ellis successfully moves Ethier to third on a sacrifice bunt. Skip Schumaker singles in Ethier, and the Dodgers notch a run on the board. Juan Uribe sneaks through a single to left field. Ryu lays down a perfect bunt, and the Dodgers have runners at second and third. Carl Crawford grounds out to short, and the Dodgers are only able to plate one measly run.

Ryu’s first strikeout victim is Nick Green in the top of the third. Gonzalez drops a foul pop ball hit by Kevin Slowey, and Gonzo draws an error on the play. Slowey ends up striking out anyways. Adeiny Hechavarria singles right through the legs of Ryu, but Matt Diaz ends the inning with a broken bat pop out to Uribe.

Dee Gordon goes deep with a solo shot to right field in the bottom of the third! The Dodgers take a 2-0 lead. Adrian Gonzalez follows with a single, his second hit of the game. Matt Kemp also singles, and the Dodgers are in business with nobody out. Ethier hits the third consecutive single in the inning for the Dodgers, but Kemp is hung up to dry at second for a big TOOTBLAN. Slowey is struggling as he walks A.J. to load the bases back up. That prompts a coaching visit to the mound for Miami. Gonzalez is able to trod home after Diaz drops a fly ball in left field hit by Schumaker. Ethier is out at third, but the force out gives the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. Uribe draws a walk, and the bases are juiced once again. Ryu grounds out to first to end the inning, but the Dodgers add another two runs to their lead.

Placido Polanco promptly doubles off the left center field wall to lead-off the top of the fourth for Miami. Polanco takes third on a groundout by Justin Ruggiano. Marcell Ozuna whiffs for the second out. Olivo grounds out to short, and Polanco is stranded at third.

Slowey sends the Dodgers down 1-2-3 in the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Ryu allows a lead-off walk to Greg Dobbs. Green grounds into a force out, and Slowey sacrifices Green to second base. Hechavarria draws a walk. Skip Schumaker makes a great diving stop to rob Diaz of a base hit which also

Hyun-jin Ryu only allowed 1 run on 5 hits and collected a win on Saturday. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

prevents a run from scoring.

Ethier singles on a soft fly to shallow center field which bounces off the glove of Ruggiano. That’s Dre’s third hit of the game. A.J. Ellis singles to center, and Ethier is able to advance to third on the play. Ethier is actually pegged in the helmet on the throw by Ruggiano, but he’s okay. Skip Schumaker singles in Ethier, and the Dodgers now lead 4-0. A.J. Ellis brings in another run on a sac fly by Uribe. Schumaker steals second with Ryu at the plate. That’s Skips first stolen base this year. Slowey is now over 100 pitches as he walks Ryu. That’s going to be all for Slowey with Carl Crawford coming up and runners at first and second. John Rauch, the 6’11” right-hander, will come in from the Miami bullpen. Crawford promptly strokes a base hit to center, but Schumaker tries to score from second base and is easily tagged out at home to end the inning.

Kevin Slowey pitched 4 2/3 innings allowing 5 runs on 11 hits with no strikeouts and 3 walks on 102 pitches.

Ryu allows a single to Polanco in the top of the sixth, but he retires the next three Fish for a scoreless inning as Ozuna grounds into an inning ending double play.

Big Rauch sends the Dodgers down in order in the bottom half of the sixth.

Ryu begins to tire by the seventh inning, and he allows a solo homerun to Miguel Olivo to start. Dobbs grounds out. Green lines out to Carl Crawford who makes a flying catch in left field. He literally looked like Superman out there! Pinch-hitter Chris Coghlan singles, and that will be all for Ryu. Paco Rodriguez comes out of the bullpen in relief. Hechavarria lines out to right field to end the inning.

Hyun-jin Ryu pitched 6 2/3 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits while striking out 3 and walking 3 on 114 pitches.

Andre Ethier makes a great catch in the eighth inning. Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

A.J. Ramos will pitch for the Marlins in the bottom of the seventh. Ethier doubles, and that’s Dre’s fourth hit of the night! A.J. strikes out. Skip draws a walk. Uribe singles off the glove of the diving Hechavarria, and Dre brings in the sixth Dodger run of the night! Dre looks to have injured his leg while scoring and is limping in the dugout. Not another injury! With pinch-hitter Nick Punto batting, a passed ball allows Schumaker to come home, 7-1. Punto strikes out. Crawford flies out, but the Dodgers add another two runs to their score.

Matt Guerrier will pitch the eighth inning for the Dodgers. Ethier, who is okay and still in the game, makes a diving catch in right field on a Diaz liner! Polanco pops out. Ruggiano strikes out, and Guerrier pitches a nice scoreless frame.

Ryan Webb comes out of the Miami bullpen for the bottom of the eighth inning. Dee Gordon draws a lead-off walk. Luis Cruz grounds into a double play. Kemp strikes out.

Javy Guerra comes in for the ninth. We hold our breath. Ozuna grounds out… out number ONE. Kyle Skipworth strikes out…. out number TWO. Javy snares a line drive comebacker by Dobbs for….out number THREE!

The Dodgers win! The Dodgers win! Okay, it’s only one win and it was against the Marlins, but it’s been soooo long! Let’s bask in the glory of the victory tonight, shall we?

Sunday  the rubber game of the series will be at 1:10 p.m. The Mother’s Day matinee will feature Chris Capuano versus Tom Koehler.