For more photos from Tuesday, visit LA Photog Blog.
By Jon Weisman
There’s no honor in blaming luck for a loss, and in fact, the San Francisco Giants displayed a surfeit of skill in their 6-2 victory Tuesday over the Dodgers.
San Francisco shortstop Brandon Crawford’s RBI bunt single in the third and acrobatic double-play launch in the sixth, followed by rightfielder Justin Maxwell’s diving catch into the wall in foul territory and two-run homer in the eighth — when stuff like that happens, victory often follows.
At the same time, I don’t think it’s shameful to point out that this wasn’t the Dodgers’ luckiest night. Adrian Gonzalez lined into an unassisted double play (one of four twin-killings the Dodgers hit into). Yasiel Puig might have been robbed of an at-bat by a catcher’s interference non-call. And above all, there was this:
The Giants have nine hits in four innings. A couple of them even look like hits! pic.twitter.com/iKF0CpsCi1
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 22, 2015
Groundballs with eyes are stupid.
— Brett Anderson (@BAnderson3737) April 22, 2015
It’s the story of the game. Anderson wasn’t abdicating responsibility — you face 20 batters and strike out one, you take your chances. But a break wouldn’t hurt.
“The only real legitimate run was the (Buster) Posey single,” Anderson told Alex Espinoza of MLB.com. “I still feel confident in my abilities. The defense couldn’t have done any more than they did today, it was just some well-placed hits that you have to deal with and go on to next one.”
“I’d almost rather have lasers hit all over the yard,” Anderson added. “Because you make your pitch and you execute it and then you get them to mishit it or whatever, and then you give up hits. It’s almost more frustrating.”
Anderson also survived the scariest play of the night — his dive near the Dodger dugout in pursuit of an errant throw by Gonzalez.
“I would prefer not to have a terrible dive and a strawberry on my right forearm, but just the fact I was able to come out of that and keep pitching is a small victory in itself,” Anderson said, via Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles.
Even trailing by five runs in the ninth inning, the Dodgers got a good look at the game, putting three runners on and scoring one before faltering.
This might not be the Dodgers' night, but there's nothing about this team that makes me think they can't come back.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) April 22, 2015
Ultimately, this game was a flip of Sunday’s victory over Colorado, when so much went the Dodgers’ way. The odds of that happening more often than not remain in the Dodgers’ favor.
Placement in the standings doesn’t seem to matter much when the Giants and Dodgers play, but if there were ever a game to throw the team records out the window, it’s tonight, when Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw faces off against World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner.
jpavko
If the Dodgers hitters had been a little more patient with LIncecum’s pitches it could have been a different story. “The Freak” was throwing them all over the place last night and the Dodgers could have benefited greatly from a few walks
frednaz
Puig was able to chase down a fly ball which was good to see if not a little worrisome given his leg issues.
Puig also looks like he is dialed in again at the plate.
Anderson should have let the slow roller roll until it stopped. Who knows, it might have rolled foul. Question: Does he have baseball smarts?
Anderson broke late to cover first on a slow roller to first and then took a bad path which contributed to Gonzales’ error and Anderson having to dive for the ball to keep it in play.
Rollins seems to be able to knock in key runs in the clutch and if the wind were not blowing from right to left, his long drive to right probably would have been another clutch home run.
Rollins can’t get on base but he can hit with RISP. Pederson can get on base but is struggling with RISP. Grandal hasn’t done either all that well. Just saying as they say. It’s time to rethink the lineup.
Cumberland Gap (@cumberland_g)
I agree about the lack of patience last night. Let a washed-up hack like Lincecum get himself out of the game.
oldbrooklynfan
The game was all Giants. Maybe tonight it will be the reverse. Maybe, who knows?