Ethier’s Steal Plays Huge, M.Ellis’s RBI Single Gives Dodgers Historic Win

We had more insane news to ponder over before the start of the Yankees/Dodgers two game series at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers signed Brian Wilson to a one-year contract. Giant fans were devastated. Dodger fans were shocked. Yes the Brian Wilson. Nutjob Brian Wilson. Blackbeard Brian Wilson. It’s nauseating, and terrifying all at the same time. Although I must admit there is a certain bent appeal on Wilson regaining his form and giving the Dodgers another solid power arm out of the back of the bullpen. While you are trying to wrap your brain around that one, the Dodgers pulled out another thriller, beating the Yankees 3-2 in front of a sold out crowd at Dodger Stadium. The game was won thanks to a single and stolen base from Andre Ethier, and a clutch RBI single from Mark Ellis in the bottom of the ninth. Ageless wonder Mariano Rivera never entered the game sparking another should teams use their closers in tie games on the road debate again. Whatever, debate all you want, the Dodgers won, and when your opponents are making mistakes, don’t interrupt them. Who knew an Ethier single and stolen base would setup the game winner? Baseball is wonderful sometimes.

*Update* Aaparently Greinke didnt want to bat in the seventh inning because he injured his bicep. Greinke said the injury isn’t serious and that he won’t miss a start.  he injured it on a swing and miss.I hope so, Greinke looked fine to me tonight. It didn’t look like he was injured.

The Yankees come in with most of their depleted lineup filled with Lyle Overbays, and Chris Stewarts, No Curtis Granderson, no Mark Teixeira, no Alex Rodriguez. But they did just acquire Alfonso Soriano. The Yankees are just trying to stay relevant in the AL wild card race at the moment.  The Yankees are old man. I mean crotchety old. They’re still pretty competitive though despite their crippling injuries. They gave the ball tonight to one hundred year old Andy Pettitte, who countered right hander Zack Greinke.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier (16) celebrates his winning run following the ninth inning with second baseman Skip Schumaker (55) against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium.- Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

This was a back and forth game. The Dodgers were unable to really get anything going off of the brittle corpse of Andy Pettitte. The 41 year old, (who looked every bit of his 41 years) must have dust for bones by now, since he’s been pitching since I was in high school. So has Mariano Rivera, and Derek Jeter of course is back and more ageless than ever.

Greinke and Pettitte both pitched well but neither were involved in the decision. Greinke allowed two runs on five hits through seven, while whiffing seven. Pettitte allowed two runs on eight hits and whiffed three through seven frames.

Our boss threw out the ceremonial first pitch!-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers scored one in the first, the Yankees scored one in the second, the Dodgers scored one in the second frame, and then the Yankees scored a run in the fourth.

In the first inning, Yasiel Puig doubles off the wall, advances to third on a grounder, and scores on a Hanley Ramirez RBI single. The Yankees tied it up on Lyle Overbay’s solo home run in the second frame. Juan Uribe’s solo loge home run in the second gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. Uribe becomes only the tenth Dodger ever and only the 22 loge homer in Dodger Stadium history. Remember Juan Rivera did it last year against the Braves. I’ve always thought loge homers are really really cool! The Yankees tied it again in the fourth, when Soriano doubled, and scored on an Ichiro Suzuki grounder.

Pettitte is old and annoying- Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers had a run thrown out at the plate in the third, which proved important. Hanley doubled, and then tried to score on an A.J. Ellis single to right. Ichiro threw a bullet to Chris Stewart who tagged out Hanley for the third out, although it was close.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth, when the Dodgers would pull out another magical rally to win it. Ethier singles off of right hander Shawn Kelley. A crucial stolen base would prove vital, as Ethier gets a rare steal. After Uribe whiffed, Mark Ellis lines a base hit to center and Ethier scores to give the Dodgers the win!

This was a historic win. Only five other Dodger teams had started the second half with a 9-1 record, and the Dodgers become the first to not only go 10-1 after the all-star break, but win 27 out of their last 33 games. To make things even more awesome, the Dbacks lost to Tampa Bay, so the Dodgers are now 3.5 games up on the Snakes in the NL West. Celebrate history Dodger fans!

Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke (21) pitches during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium.-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Yankees don’t score in the top of the first. Greinke induces Brett Gardner to ground to second. Derek Jeter a slow roller to second for the second out. Robinson Cano singles up the middle. Greinke ends the frame with a swinging strike out of new/old Yankee Alfonso Soriano.

The Dodgers get started right away by scoring in the bottom of the first. Andy Pettitte starts the frame by getting Carl Crawford to ground out. Yasiel Puig bangs a double off the top of the center field wall. Puig tags up to third on Adrian Gonzalez’s fly ball to right. With two outs, Hanley Ramirez’s RBI single up the middle scores Puig. Dodgers lead 1-0. Lyle Overbay’s solo home run into the right field pavilions ties the game at 1-1 in the top of the second. Yes Lyle Overbay hit a home run off Zack Greinke. Pretty pathetic.

The Dodgers fight back in the bottom of the second. With one out, Juan Uribe takes an 0-2 pitch and slams it just inside the left field foul pole into the lodge section! The Dodgers lead 2-1! Uribe’s home run was measured at 441 feet.

2-1 Dodgers in the top of the third. After Pettitte whiffs, Gardner singles. Jeter’s ground out advances him to second. Cano whiffs to end the frame.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Juan Uribe (5) celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium.-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodger’s atrocious base running robs them of another run. In the bottom of the third, after Puig grounds out, and Gonzalez flies out, Hanley doubles into the gap. A.J. singles to right, and Hanley tries to score. Hanley is dead meat at the plate as Ichiro’s throw is right on the money. The Dodgers don’t score.

Greinke serves up the lead to the Yanks on a silver platter in the top of the fourth. Soriano doubled. Greinke uncorks a wild pitch to allow Soriano to advance to third. Overbay’s grounder to short scores Soriano to tie the game at 2-2. Greinke gets Ichiro to ground out, and whiffs Jayson Nix to end the frame. The Dodgers go down pathetically 123 in the bottom of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Greinke retires Chris Stewart, Pettitte, and whiffs Gardner on a called third strike for a nice quick 123 inning. Pettite gets another 123 as well and we’re still tied at 2-2 after five frames.

This was Hanley’s tootblan-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Greinke retires jeter on a grounder to third in the top of the sixth. Cano a deep fly ball to center. Soriano a pop fly for the third out. The Yankees threaten in the top of the seventh. A one-out double from Ichiro puts the Dodgers in danger of losing the lead. Greinke however bares down to get Jayson Nix to whiff, and Stewart to ground out to a stumbling Hanley for the third out.

In the bottom of the seventh, Soriano makes a diving catch on Uribe’s sinking liner. M.Ellis singles. Pinch-hitter Jerry Hairston pops out, and Crawford’s broken bat grounder ends that inning.

Greinke is pulled after 101 pitches in the top of the eighth. Ronald Belisario takes the mound. Greinke finishes with seven whiffs, and no walks in seven frames. He allowed two runs on five hits. Belisario retires all three Yankee batters on grounders. Pinch-hitter Vernon Wells, Gardner and Jeter all ground out. Hanley makes a nice play on the Jeter grounder. The score is still tied at 2-2 going to the bottom of the eighth.

New York Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay (55) is congratulated by third base coach Rob Thomson (59) after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.- Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

David Robertson a right hander replaces Pettitte in the bottom of the eighth inning. Puig whiffs. Gonzalez a grounder to first. Hanley grounds out. We move to the ninth. Kenley Jansen pitches the top of the ninth for the Dodgers. Jansen blows away Cano. Jansen gets Soriano fishing on a slider in the dirt. Overbay is retired on a fly ball on the left field line.

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier (16) celebrates his winning run following the ninth inning with second baseman Skip Schumaker (55) against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers win!-Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers third base coach Tim Wallach (26) and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrate as right fielder Andre Ethier (16) scores the winning run in the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium.- Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Move to the bottom of the ninth. Right hander Shawn Kelley enters the game, not Mariano Rivera. Kelley has only allowed two of the 25 inherited runners to score this year. After A.J. grounds out, Ethier singles. Uribe whiffs and almost comes out of his shoes. With M.Ellis at the plate, Ethier steals second. M.Ellis then lines a base hit to center, Ethier comes around to score, and the Dodgers win! Final score of 3-2!

The Dodgers improve to 57-48, and look to sweep the Yankees tomorrow night at 7:10 PM. The pitching duel of the year will pit old friend Hiroki Kuroda against Clayton Kershaw. Seriously guys don’t sleep on this. Go Blue!