Two victories in, Dodger ups and downs

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By Jon Weisman

Until the end, the Dodgers breezed in their second game of 2014, finally dispatching Arizona in a 7-5 victory, one in which they had 23 baserunners. Ken Gurnick recaps the particulars for MLB.com.

As the Dodgers completed their two-game sweep and prepared for a happy flight home, you could find that already, several players were already tasting both the ups and downs of the baseball season.

Dee Gordon: He made that error in the fourth and was left out of three possible double plays by Hanley Ramirez, but otherwise provided another electrifying vision of his potential. He drilled a double that one-hopped the wall in the Dodgers’ two-run third inning, had an infield single in the fourth and, in the sixth, drag-bunted his way to second base after Miguel Montero’s desperation throw went way over first baseman Paul Goldschmidt’s head. For good measure, a sacrifice fly in the seventh brought home his first RBI of 2014, and he was hit by a pitch in the foot in the ninth.

Yasiel Puig: The right fielder recovered from Opening Day’s 0 for 5 by lashing three balls for two singles and a double, driving in two runs. He was also hit by a pitch and played a solid right field. He did feed his critics by getting thrown out twice on the bases, to which I say this:

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Yes, his baserunning needs to improve. No, that doesn’t ruin his value.

Juan Uribe: Another comeback from a hitless Game 1 goes to Uribear, who like Puig doubled and singled twice (on his 35th birthday in the U.S., on the day after it in Australia).

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Andre Ethier: He became the third Dodger to reach base three times in his second game after a hitless season debut, though he was thrown out trying to stretch a first-inning RBI single into a double. By the way, 10 Dodgers have hits this season, and none has a two-game hitting streak.

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Hanley Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez and A.J. Ellis: The trio has combined for two hits in two games, but also seven walks. Gonzalez also leads the majors in stolen bases, writes Eric Stephen of True Blue L.A.

Dodger relievers: Chris Withrow, Paco Rodriguez, Jamey Wright, J.P. Howell and Jose Dominguez held the lead but walked seven batters in the process, and a four-run ninth, capped by a Mark Trumbo home run off Kenley Jansen, made things uncomfortable before Gerardo Parra fanned to end the game.