Ain't It Grand? Yasmani Grandal's Grand Slam Lifts Dodgers Over Rockies, 7-4, Magic Number Now 4

In the grand scheme of things, maybe the Dodgers don't need the Padres help.

Yasmnai Grandal hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the Colorado Rockies 7-4, on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. 

The Dodgers are just five wins away from clinching their fourth consecutive NL West division title, and that victory total could get even lower if the Padres beat the Giants in any of their four games this weekend.

So Grandal decided the Dodgers didn't need to wait around for the Padres to provide some assistance as he took matters into his own hands at the plate.

"We have to turn it up. We have nine games left. Let's get this thing over with and win the division," Grandal said. "Let's get some rest keep on playing and let's do this."

The Dodgers catcher provided most of the offense on Thursday as he drove in five runs thanks to a solo shot in the second inning and a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh. 

"I wasn't trying to hit a home run, I was just trying to get something up in the air," Grandal said of the game-winning at-bat. "I was able to get a good swing on it."

The long balls were Grandal's 26^th and 27^th home runs of the season, most among MLB catchers, and marked the sixth multi-homer game of his career.

Brett Anderson was activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game and made his third start of the season for the Dodgers. 

"This was my first actual start with being healthy and feeling good," Anderson said. "My exeuction still wasn't there but it was closer. I was able to navigate through the heart of the lineup a couple times other than that second inning."

After a clean first inning for the left-hander, Anderson ran into trouble in the second. He surrendered three straight hits followed by a walk to load the bases for Daniel Descalso. After a sac fly and an RBI single from Charlie Blackmon, the Rockies had an early 3-0 lead.

Anderson did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk in five innings of work. 

"The only two pitches I would really like back is the hanging curveball to LeMahieu and the fastball to Hundley," Anderson said of his start overall. "They have a good lineup and a good mix of veterans and tough guys moving forward."

Grandal's first home run cut the lead to 3-1, but D.J. LeMahieu homered for Colorado in the top of the fifth to extend the lead back to three.

Tyler Chatwood left the game leading in the seventh inning, and had a strong start, allowing just two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks in six solid innings.

"Chatwood was real good again. Good fastball with good movement," said Chatwood's coach. "I thought he did a great job tonight."

The Colorado bullpen got off to a rocky start in the bottom of the seventh as Jordan Lyles allowed a leadoff double to pinch-hitter Andre Ethier. 

"That leadoff double for Dre [Ethier], that was a big hit for him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "All the at-bats that inning were great. Logan is one of the best lefties in the league."

Manager Walt Weiss then went to the left-hander, Boone Logan, who promptly walked three of the next four batters he faced, loading up the bases for Grandal.

"Boone just didn't have the command of his slider tonight," Weiss said after the game. "He's been great all year, we had the exact matchups we wanted. We haven't seen him like that in a long time."

Grandal fell behind 0-2 to start the count, but Logan served up a fastball that the switch-hitter sent over the centerfield wall to give LA a 7-4 lead.

"I was just trying to stay alive there," he said of the at-bat. "You don't want to strikeout there. A walk is as good as a single. A sac fly ties the game. The fact that I was able to battle back and put us ahead was huge."

It was Grandal's fourth home run from the right side of the plate this season, and the second time in his career he's homered from both sides of the plate in the same game. He last accomplished the feat on June 30, 2012 with the Padres, also against the Rockies.

"That was the first game I ever started in the big leagues and were my first two hits," recalled Grandal of the first time he homered from both sides of the plate. "Was I trying to do that again tonight? Not really, I was just trying to get the bat on the ball, but it was pretty special."

The Rockies never recovered from the big blast off the bat of Grandal as they hit into an unassisted double play in the top of the eighth inning. Shortly thereafter, Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado and Weiss were both ejected from the game by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez.

"I was frustrated," a dissapointed Arenado said after the game. "We're both human. I probably shouldn't have done that, but it was frustrating. I was 0-2, I battled back in that at-bat and I thought I had a walk there. I let my emotions get the best of me."

Kenley Jansen extended his career mark for saves when he recorded his 46^th rescue of the season with a perfect ninth inning.

Los Angeles still leads the NL West by six games over the Giants who defeated the Padres, 2-1 in San Diego. However, the Dodgers Magic Number to clinch the division was dropped to four.  

Players of the Game:

Yasmani Grandal: 4-4 with a double, two home runs and five RBI.
D.J. LeMahieu: Solo home run 

Three Takeaways:

1. Bait and Switch: Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal hit two home runs in the game, his sixth multi-homer game of his career, and the second time he's homered from both sides of the plate in the same. Ironically, he first accomplished the feat on June 30, 2012 with the Padres in a game against the Colorado Rockies.

Yasmani Grandal homered from both sides of the plate tonight. The second time in his career he's done that (6-30-12). 6th MLB player this yr — Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) September 23, 2016

2. Go Home, You're Drunk: Colorado Rockies third baseman, Nolan Arenado and manager Walt Weiss were both ejected in the 8^th inning by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez for arguing balls and strikes.

Nolan Arenado and Walt Weiss ejected because they can't take it anymore. — Doug Padilla (@DougPadilla) September 23, 2016

3. It's Your Duty, Judy: The Dodgers celebrated the 89^th birthday of Tommy Lasorda on Thursday as the legendary manager received a birthday cake and fans in attendance sang "Happy Birthday" to the man who coined the phrase, "Blue Heaven on Earth." Lasorda is also the only manager in Dodger history to win the division in his first season, but could have some company soon.

Fans serenade Tommy Lasorda for his 89th birthday. @dodgers players gather around to congratulate former skipper. @MLB #dodgers #rockies pic.twitter.com/GG6vT2aA3R — Jill Painter Lopez (@jillpainter) September 23, 2016 

Up Next:

Rockies (73-80): Colorado counters with Jon Gray on Friday night.

Dodgers (87-66): Scott Kazmir returns from the disabled list on Friday at 7:10PM PST.