Dodgers Up Early, But Go Down Again

Los Angeles Dodgers lose to the Miami Marlins 5-4 after blowing an early lead late in the game.

The Dodgers scored three runs Friday night before Miami’s 20-year-old starter Jose Hernandez was able to make an out. They were practically shut down for the next nine innings and went on to lose an eighth straight game, this time by a score of 5-4.

The hot start came off Hernandez’s first ten pitches. A Carl Crawford single and Nick Punto walk set up Adrian Gonzalez’s three-run homer. From then on the Dodgers could only bring in one more run, while stranding ten runners on base.

Dodgers 23 year-old right hander, Matt Magill, spent most of the night working against himself. He allowed four walks, with three to leadoff batters. In the fourth his poor control caught up to him as he served up two walks and gave up the game-tying three-run home run from Derek Dietrich, the first homer of Dietrich’s career. With 93 pitches Magill did not work past five innings and left the game at a 3-3 tie.

Magill was faced with trouble as early as the second inning. After a leadoff walk he brought Greg Dobbs to a full count and it looked like the wheels may be coming off. He managed to find his way out of the inning on two fly balls and a strike out. Again, in the third he erased the leadoff walk with a double play ball. Although he found his way out of these jams, it caught up to him in the fourth with the Dietrich home run. If Magill wants to make it in the majors as a starter he has to learn to manage his control. Hopefully as the Dodgers pitching rotation heals Magill will find time in the minors to work on the command of his pitches.

J.P. Howell, Ronald Belisario and Paco Rodriquez came out the bullpen, respectively. Howell and Rodriguez pitched a combined three innings without giving up any hits. Belisario gave up a walk, three hits and two runs in his inning of work and took the loss, his fourth of the season.

Down south in Lake Elsinore, Zach Greinke started for Single A Rancho Cucamonga, going 4.3 innings with 80 pitches, 6 hits, 8 runs, and 4 strikeouts. Most importantly his collarbone is still intact. It is a rehab start, as long as he leaves without pain it should be considered a success. Both Mattingly and Greinke have expressed that they want him to start on Wednesday against the Nationals.

Twitter Trends from #Dodgers Nation

  • Lots of frustration directed to Magill and his four walks
  • Continuous complaints about Matt Kemp’s hitting, despite the fact he is in the middle of a 9-game hit streak
  • A marriage proposal at the stadium during Kiss Cam produced quite a few groans
  • Is Marlins 20 year old starter Jose Fernandez this good? Or are the Dodgers this bad?
  • The NHL Kings scored a goal with .2 seconds left in the second period, and will advance to the second round of playoffs
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