Joc Pederson, CF
Darwin Barney, SS
Yasiel Puig, RF
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
Yasmani Grandal, DH
Justin Turner, 3B
Matt Carson, LF
Kike Hernandez, 2B
Chris O’Brien, C
(Erik Bedard, P)
By Jon Weisman
Could it be, yet again?
The Dodgers seemed primed today against Oakland for their seventh tie in their past 14 games, taking a 2-1 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning and then walking the leadoff hitter.
But it went a bit too far, and despite a double play, two runs crossed the plate for the victorious A’s.
For eight innings, the Dodgers (8-4-6) had superb pitching, as Clayton Kershaw was followed to the mound by J.P. Howell (one inning, one hit), Adam Liberatore (one inning, two strikeouts) and David Aardsma (one inning, three strikeouts)
Barry Zito, whose last regular-season MLB start was a winning five-inning performance for San Francisco 18 months ago, pitched three perfect innings, striking out five, and ended up with today’s win.
oldbrooklynfan
There was nothing else to do but root for another tie, because it’s better than a loss.
But it was not meant to be.