The Turning Point?
The Dodgers entered the 9th inning down 9-4: Andy Pages walk Miguel Rojas single K Miguel Vargas walk Jason Heyward pinch-hit grand slam Shohei Ohtani single K Freddie Freeman intentional walk Teoscar Hernández three-run home run. LA is now up 11-9. I cannot believe what I saw…
Many times in life and in baseball as well (baseball is life, right?) there comes a defining moment where one can look back and say, “That was when it all changed.” The 9th inning of last night’s game could be one of those moments. Behind by 5 runs in the top of the 9th inning, the Dodgers pulled within one run on a Grand Slam by Jayson Heyward and won on a 3-run homer by Teoscar Hernandez, and here’s the cool part: “You knew it was going to happen!” When Heyward walked to the plate, I said, “he is going to hit a Grand Slam,” and he did, and then when Teo checked his swing, I said, “He is going to win this thing,” and he did! You could just feel it. Something changed last night!
To me, even though it is the Rockies, the Dodgers just “flipped the switch” last night and willed their way to victory. It was a sight to behold and quite possibly the turning point in their journey from very good to great! Miguel Vargas continues to make a case to play every day in left field as he got two hits and took a walk. He is not trying to do too much and is letting the game come to him. His bat is exactly what the Dodgers need at the bottom of the order and he does not need platooned.
It wasn’t all “peaches and cream” however, as Walker Buehler gave up 7 runs in his four innings.
Of course, Walker was pitching in Colorado, but maybe he needs a “reset.” The velocity is there, but the results are not.
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Discussion (58)
Disagree, not disagreeable
For the record….
Willie Mays missed the entire 1953 baseball season and played only 34 games in 1952 because of his service in the US Army. He was drafted; otherwise, his career statistics would have been even more impressive…a great player and person!
RIP Willie Mays. He was so much fun to watch even though he was on the Giants. He and Willie McCovey. Thanks for the video of Vinny holding court with Willie. What a memory Vinny had even at the end of his career. I think most of the readers of this blog were so fortunate to watch and listen to both of these legends. I didn’t remember Willie being Vinny’s favorite player. I thought it was Mike Piazza! Lol.
A comeback for the ages last night. I watch the entire game through the 8th inning. Things weren’t going the Dodgers way. Move on. Big mistake on my part! But, something that hadn’t happen in close to a 100 years who would have thunk they were going to win it an inning later? That would be no one else, except….. Mark Timmons.
Bobby Miller has a tough ballpark to restart his season. i know his stats weren’t that good in his rehab starts, but I don’t believe they were that good last year when he got called up. He had a nice season once he settled into the rotation. Let’s see if he can duplicate that now. With Buehler’s troubles, it would be helpful if Miller can step up and be a productive part of the rotation going forward. And, hopefully, Kershaw on deck to do the same!
Carry on
Great comeback last night.
Wednesday scores
9:05 a.m. PT: Oklahoma City (TBA) vs. Albuquerque (Noah Davis)
4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Christian Romero) vs. Quad Cities (Steven Zobac)
5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Kendall Williams) at Northwest Arkansas (Mason Barnett)
6:30 p.m.: Rancho Cucamonga (Clayton Kershaw) vs. Inland Empire (Francis Texido)
Wednesday is the first minor league rehab start for Clayton Kershaw since his November shoulder surgery, and his first start in any competitive game in 256 days. He’s expected to pitch about three innings.
Great comeback win! A game like that usually only happens for your favorit team every 50 years or so. MOF they say the last time the Dodgers did come back from 5 runs down in the 9th or later was the year before they left Brooklyn. So that is how rare it is.
I repeat what I said yesterday: Keep M.Vargas in the lineup even if you have to play him at 3b. He is exactly what this lineup needs with Mookie and MM out. Even when they get back there should be regular at bats for this kid.
What a video with Vin and Mays. You can see how Vins eyes light up as he turns into a young kid again when talking to his idol. All fan in this fascinating minutes between two of the greatest legends of this sport. One doing it on the field the other off the field in the pressbox. Legendary.
RIP Willie.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!