The detractors will say, “who have they played?” Maybe they’d be right, but the Dodgers are off to a 9-1 start so far this season. They’ve played perennial bottom-feeders like the Padres and the Pirates in those nine games, but winning nine of ten major leagues games is difficult no matter who you play. Their lone loss came in the opening series against the San Diego Padres in San Diego. Since that game, they’ve won six straight including yesterday’s walk-off win.
The Dodgers once again jumped on the Padres early. They took an early 4-1 lead before San Diego managed to come back and tie the game. The score would remain locked as both teams headed into the ninth. In the top of the inning, with San Diego threatening and no one out, Jesus Guzman bunted into a triple play. The home plate umpire, Dale Scott, looked as if he called the ball foul. Guzman was attempting to get away from the inside pitch but it still hit the neck of his bat. Scott lifted his arms as if to call foul, but the Dodgers kept playing and turned three. Bud Black was furious and ejected after the call. The play demoralized the Padres and they would fall the very next half inning. With the bases loaded, speedster Dee Gordon slapped the game-winning single to left field. The walk-off was the second of the series against the Padres, and Los Angeles improved their league leading record.
American League
Baltimore – 2
Toronto – 9
Baltimore took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but they couldn’t hold it. Toronto erupted for six runs in the bottom of sixth and went on to win 9-2. Edwin Encarnacion and Brett Lawrie both went deep in the inning.
Tampa Bay – 4
Boston – 6
Tampa Bay came back from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the sixth only to watch the Red Sox re-take the lead in the bottom of the inning. David Ortiz, who had hit safely in his last six consecutive at-bats, doubled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. The Red Sox would add another run in the bottom of the seventh as they downed the Rays 6-4.
Detroit – 5
Chicago – 2
Rick Porcello earned the win for the Tigers yesterday and became the first starter for Detroit this season to earn a win. He went 7 2/3 innings allowing just five hits and one run. The Tigers pounded out ten hits and Gerald Laird hit a solo blast to help the Tigers improve to 5-3.
Cleveland – 13
Kansas City – 7
After starting the season 1-4, the Indian have pulled to .500 with their sweep of Kansas City. Travis Hafner hit a 456-foot bomb, one of the longest ever hit at Kauffman Stadium. The Indians will be leaning heavily on Hafner who, after shoulder surgery in 2008, has never quite been his 2006 self.
Texas – 4
Minnesota – 3
Trailing 3-1, the Rangers stormed back yesterday in the eighth inning. They scored three runs in the top of the eighth and turned the game over to their new closer, former Twins closer Joe Nathan. Nathan slammed the door, and the Rangers improved to 8-2.
Oakland – 3
Seattle – 5
Brendand Ryan and Justin Smoak hit home runs as Seattle topped Oakland despite allowing the A’s to tie the game with three runs in the fifth. Eric Sogard accounted for all three of Oakland’s runs with his three-run shot in the top of the fifth.
New York – 11
Los Angeles – 5
In a slugfest, the Yankees hammered out 12 hits, scored 11 runs, and saw Raul Ibanez hit a monster two-run home run in the seventh inning. Ibanez’s home run was just the third to hit the third deck of the New Yankee Stadium, and just the first by a Yankee. Derek Jeter was 2 for 5 with 3 RBI to improve his average to .366 on the young season. Albert Pujols drove in one run late in the game with a single and finished 1 for 5.