Dodger Pitchers Helping Their Own Cause More Than Ever This Year
Last night newly acquired Dodger pitcher Ricky Nolasco represented his new Cali life (He’s now officially bigging it up after last night’s incredible performance) and pitched seven shutout frames against the Snakes earning his first Dodger win, helping the Dodgers beat the Snakes 6-1 for the second consecutive night. Nolasco only allowed two hits and whiffed five, and picked up the win in his Dodger debut. Even more impressive was what he did with the bat. Nolasco collected two hits, an RBI single, and a double. This coming just a day after Zack Greinke had his Zack attack, a three hit game on Monday night that resulted in the first Dodger 6-1 score.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ricky Nolasco hits an RBI single in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.-Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dodger hurlers are hitting the ball at a near record clip in 2013. The Dodger pitchers rank second in the national league in batting, hits, and OBP. They rank fourth in the majors in batting, and third in extra base hits. The Dodger pitchers are not only doing well on the mound, but at the plate as well.
Greinke leads the club for pitchers with a .370 (10 for 27) average. He has a double, and three walks. Hyun-jin Ryu is batting .235 (8 for 34) with two doubles, and a triple. Clayton Kershaw has been slumping with the bat of late, but he still has three extra base hits. Kershaw is batting .167 (7 for 42) with two doubles, and his solo home run from opening day. I remember the days when Kershaw and Chad Billingsley would compete over who could get more hits, or who could have the higher batting average.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke drives in a run with a single in the 4th inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.- Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Now Kershaw is competing with Ryu, Greinke, and Nolasco, and the foursome has been collecting more hits than any other group of starting pitchers in the National league in 2013.
The Dodger pitchers are hitting .185 (29 for 157) with six doubles, one triple, and one home run. They have driven in ten runs, and have a .243 OBP. They also have ten walks, which is tops in the National League.
Per Eric Stephen, Zack Greinke’s three-hits and his seven scoreless frames on Monday versus Arizona, became just the fourth Dodger ever to toss at least seven scoreless frames, and collect three hits at the plate. The other three were Fernando Valenzuela, (April, 1982 vs. Giants), Kevin Brown (April, 2002 vs. Colorado) and Orel Hershiser in game two of the 1988 World Series against Oakland.