Dodgers 7, Giants 3: All About the Rally Banana

Clayton Kershaw pitched great, but in Friday night’s victory against the San Francisco Giants, Enrique Hernandez stole the show.

At this point Hernandez is owning Madison Bumgarner. He took him deep twice tonight. The first solo homerun came off the first pitch of the game as Hernandez sent it into the left field pavilion. The second solo homerun came in the bottom of the third. Hernandez is only the third player to hit two homeruns off of Bumgarner in a game. He now is hitting .625, 10 for 16 with seven extra base hits against Mad Bum, or as I like to call him Sir Snot Rocket. Let’s be real, I have never seen a pitcher scratch his butt or forcefully get snot out of his nose during a start quite like Mad Bum.

The Giants would score one of their runs in the top of the third as a wild pitch from Kershaw was high and away, missing A.J. Ellis‘ glove. Ellis ran to the backstop, but was unable to reach the ball before Mad Bum scored from third after leading off the inning with a base hit. After that Kershaw got Buster Posey to line out and the inning was over.

The fourth inning was where the Dodgers capitalized on some giant mistakes (horrible pun I’m sorry). Justin Turner led off the inning with a walk, followed by a single by Howie Kendrick. With one out Ellis came to the plate and hit into a fielders choice, which would have been a routine double play, however an error at second base by Kelby Tomlinson meant all the runners were safe. Charlie Culberson was up next and crushed a single. Dodgers then led 4-1. Kershaw came up to the plate next and again hit into what should have been a routine double play, but Joe Panik, panicked and could not hadle the ball. After error number two of the inning the Dodgers now led 6-1.

The Giants would not score again until the top of the sixth. Kershaw gave up base hits to Angel Pagan and Panik. With two runners on, Kershaw again threw another wild pitch, this time one that skipped between Ellis’ legs and the Giants scored again. Hunter Pence then came up and promptly hit a single scoring one more run. Dodgers were still up but the score following the top of the sixth was 6-3.

The Dodgers offense came back quick. In the bottom of the sixth, Ellis led off with a double and Culberson followed with a single to drive him in.

Dodgers newest dad, Chris Hatcher pitched a great eighth inning and Joe Blanton followed it up with a scoreless ninth!

Kershaw pitched seven innings, allowed five hits, gave up two earned runs and struckout six. Today was a great day in my books! Jackie Robinson Day, Dodgers beat the Giants, Kershaw gets the win and Mad Bum the loss. This victory gives the Dodges sole possession of first place in the NL West.

Tomorrow the Dodgers will again be facing the Giants. Game two’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:10PM.