Snow day in Minneapolis brings back childhood memories

The Dodgers-Twins game in Minneapolis today was called for weather with a mixture of rain and snow falling and temperatures in the 30s.

The game was rescheduled for Thursday as part of a split day-night doubleheader, however, the weather report for Wednesday and Thursday isn't any better, with at least a 70 percent chance of rain both days and no change in temperatures.

Thinking about the Twins brought back memories of collecting baseball cards as a kid and a table game we played using baseball cards and a hat filled with hand-made scoring tickets we would pull out to see what would happen on the next play. We even made a little ball out of aluminum foil and supplied our own sound effects.

We would put our cards on out the “field” on defense and dip into the hat to make the next play. We moved the base runners along the bases on these makeshift ball fields of our minds.

Playing with baseball cards usually meant you had time to read the backs of the cards and could study batting averages, home runs, RBIs and wins, losses and ERA for the pitchers.

I remember the Twins cards of Rod Carew, Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Eddie Matthews, Zoilo Versalles (who later played for the Dodgers) and Frank Viola.

In 1965 the Twins played the Dodgers in the World Series. I was nine years old.

Minnesota took Game One 8-2 with Mudcat Grant getting the win over Don Drysdale. Versalles went two-for-five with four RBI, including a homer off Drysdale.

The Twins took Game Two 5-1 as Jim Kaat defeated Sandy Koufax. Koufax gave up two runs, one of them earned, on six hits in six innings. Killebrew led the Twins with two hits in three trips and Kaat helped himself with two RBI.

The Dodgers returned to Chavez Ravine down 0-2 but bounced back with a 4-0 win in Game Three as Claude Osteen got the win over Camilio Pascual. Osteen pitched a complete game five-hitter and RBIs from John Roseboro, Maury Wills and Lou Johnson paced the Dodgers.

Drysdale returned to the mound in Game Four and got the decision over Mudcat Grant in a 7-2 win. Like Osteen, Drysdale went nine innings and held the Twins to five hits. Wes Parker and Lou Johnson went yard in the rout.

Game Five in Los Angeles was critical and the Dodgers sent Koufax to the mound in a 7-0 win. Koufax went nine innings, struck out 10 and held the Twins to four hits. Wills had four hits, Ron Fairly added three and the Dodgers chased Kaat after 2.1 innings.

Minnesota evened the series at 3-3 in Game Six when Grant took the decision over Osteen in a 5-1 Twins victory. Grant went nine innings for the win, holding the Dodgers to six hits and striking out five. Fairly homered for the lone Dodger run.

Game Seven was played on October 14, 1965 at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium. Koufax faced off against Kaat in a battle of southpaws. Kaat pitched three innings before turning the game over to the Twins pitching staff of Al Worthington, Johnny Klippstein, Jim Merritt and Jim Perry.

Koufax pitched a gem, going the full nine innings and allowed only three hits while fanning 10.

The Dodgers scored twice in the fourth inning for the 2-0 final margin when Johnson homered to left off Kaat and Fairly doubled down the right field line. Parker then cashed him in with a ground single to right and Koufax had all the offense he would need.

Koufax pitched three of the seven games in the series, going 2-1 and tossing 24 innings with a 0.38 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

Fairly (.379 2 HR), Wills (.367 3 SB) and Johnson (.296 2 HR) were the offensive leaders for the Dodgers.

It’s a shame I don’t still have those baseball cards.

Rockies roll in LA

Colorado rocked Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu for six runs on nine hits today as the Rockies posted a 6-1 win to take two-of-three from the Dodgers.

 

The loss dropped the Dodgers into a second place tie with Colorado in the NL West, 1.5 games behind the Giants, winners over Cleveland.

Dee Gordon went 2-for-5 to bump his batting average to .353 and Adrian Gonzalez went one-for-two with two walks and knocked in the only LA run.

Matt Kemp had a double but finished one-for-four.

Brandon Barnes led the Rockies with three hits in four trips and two RBI. Jorge De La Rosa picked up the win, holding Los Angeles to four hits over seven innings.

The Dodgers are 6-8 in their last 14 games and have dropped series to San Francisco, Philadelphia and Colorado while taking a series from Arizona. Los Angeles is two games above .500 at 14-12.

Dodgers remain a half game back of Giants

Matt Kemp and Adrian Gonzalez homered, Dee Gordon tripled and Paul Maholm pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on seven hits tonight as the Dodgers downed Colorado 6-3 to remain a half game behind San Francisco in the NL West.

Hanley Ramirez injured his thumb while batting and left the game early. X-rays were negative.

Gordon started a Dodger rally in the third inning with a triple to center field.

Yasiel Puig was then hit by a pitch, Gordon scored on a Ramirez ground ball and Puig scored on a Gonzalez sacrifice fly. Kemp then went yard to right center and the Dodgers had a 3-1 lead.

The Dodgers added a run in the fourth when Puig doubled home Drew Butera and Gonzalez went opposite field for a solo homer off Juan Nicasio to boost the Dodgers' lead to 5-2.

Brian Wilson came on in relief in the ninth inning but had control problems and walked two batters. Mattingly had to call on Kenley Jansen to quell the Colorado comeback in the ninth, striking out two batters to get the save.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1) faces Jorge De La Rosa in the rubber match on Sunday.

Bullpen blues continue in LA

Going into the 2014 season, expectations for the Dodgers were sky high.

The Guggenheim Partners had spent an ungodly amount on players, Matt Kemp was due back from injuries and Los Angeles had a starting rotation that included Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Rookie sensation Yasiel Puig was entering his second season and Don Mattingly had a surplus of quality outfielders. Second base was a question mark and the Dodgers had stocked the bullpen with former closers Brandon League, Chris Perez and Brian Wilson to supplement Kenley Jansen.

Now the reality:

·         Kemp is healthy, but hitting at the Mendoza line at .200.

·         Adrian Gonzalez is hitting .297 and leads the team with 20 RBI. The first sacker is steady as rock.

·         Dee Gordon is hitting a team-high .347 with 12 stolen bases. He has emerged as an offensive weapon because of his speed.

·         Juan Uribe is hitting .333 with four dingers and 10 RBI. He is aging well.

·         Scott Van Slyke is making a crowded outfield more crowded with a .286 average and two HRs. He is forcing Mattingly to use him.

·         Hanley Ramirez is hitting a luke warm .267 with three dingers.

·         Andre Ethier is fading with a paltry .194 average. He is suffering most from the platoon system.

·         The bullpen has suffered eight of the 11 losses, including six extra inning defeats in April. 

Last night the Dodger relievers allowed three runs in the top of the 11th, so Adrian Gonzalez's two-run shot in the bottom of the inning (his seventh) still wasn't enough to keep the Dodgers from falling out of first place with a 5-4 loss. They are 3-5 on the home stand and 1-5 in extra innings games.

Jamey Wright took the loss last night and J.P. Howell was charged with two add-on runs that proved decisive as manager Don Mattingly stayed away from well used Kenley Jansen and out-of-sync Brian Wilson.

"It hasn't been the best home stand," said Gonzalez. "But it's still April, we've got a winning record and we're right there."

Despite all of that, the good news was Josh Beckett. He's still winless since 2012, but he allowed only four hits in eight innings and struck out six without a walk. In his last three starts, he has 17 strikeouts in 18 innings and his season ERA is 2.45 coming off serious surgery to remove a rib for thoracic outlet syndrome.

Phils get to Wilson in ninth inning

Dodger reliever Brian Wilson is a sight to behold.

His hair is cut into a razor cut with a ponytail and his long beard travels to mid-chest. His heavily tattooed arms are displayed with tight-cut sleeves and an open jersey.

He makes you take a second look.

But since joining the Dodgers last season the former Giants reliever has been lights out coming out of the pen. Wilson allowed only one run in 18 appearances last season for the Dodgers so when he got touched for four runs in the ninth inning last night in a 7-3 loss to Philadelphia, Dodger manager Don Mattingly was peppered with questions about his pitcher.

Wilson went to the DL earlier this season with an irritated ulnar nerve.

"We feel like he's healthy," said Mattingly. "Obviously, his location is not where he wants it. This guy barely misses his spots at all." 

Tapped to pitch the ninth inning in a 3-3 tie, Wilson allowed a leadoff single to Cody Asche, a one-out single to Ben Revere, a two-run double to Carlos Ruiz, an intentional walk to Chase Utley and then hit slumping Ryan Howard with a pitch before he was removed. 

"The only thing we can do is ask," Mattingly said of Wilson, who conceded a month ago that he tried to compensate for lack of arm strength after a compressed Spring Training by muscling up with his pitches, only to irritate his twice-repaired elbow.

"We think it's a matter of not executing. That's where we start if nothing is wrong physically. We have to make sure he's being honest and he feels good. We know if Brian is throwing the way he's capable of, it makes us pretty strong." 

Offensively, the Dodgers got three hits each -- including home runs -- from Juan Uribe and Adrian Gonzalez in the loss.

The Dodgers welcome Colorado to Chavez Ravine tonight. The Rockies are a game behind the Dodgers and a half-game behind the Giants in the NL West.

Dodger bats come alive in 5-2 win over Phils

After dropping the first two games of a four-game set, the Dodgers came out swinging tonight in a 5-2 win over Philadelphia that saw Los Angeles pound out five doubles, a triple and a home run.

On the mound, Dodger starter Zack Greinke (4-0) out-dueled Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels for the win. Greinke went seven innings, gave up two runs on five hits and struck out 11.

Hamels went six innings and held the Dodgers to two runs on six hits.

It was when the game went to the bullpens that Los Angeles had the edge. Philadelphia relievers Jeff Manship, Mario Hollands and Shawn Camp got roughed up for three runs on six hits in the seventh and eighth innings.

While the Phillies pen was getting battered, L.A. relievers J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen pitched two innings of no-hit ball to preserve the win for Greinke.

Hanley Ramirez had a double and homer; Matt Kemp had pair of doubles; Scott Van Slyke had a double; Yasiel Puig had a triple and Greinke helped his own cause with a double as the Dodgers racked up 12 hits.

Juan Uribe, Justin Turner, Puig and Ramirez had RBIs.

Fly ball error proves costly

Carl Crawford and Hanley Ramirez got crossed up on a 10th inning fly ball to shallow left field last night and the ball ending up glancing off Crawford’s glove and chest, putting Carlos Ruiz at second base.

Dominic Brown then cashed in the miscue with a double to center and the Phillies were on the way to a 3-2 win over Los Angeles.

 

Hyun-Jin Ryu scattered nine hits over six innings but did not get a decision.

In Colorado, the Rockies beat Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner 2-1 to move into second place, a half game behind the Dodgers, who have now lost two in a row to Philadelphia.

Zack Greinke (3-0, 2.42 ERA) goes to the bump tonight against Cole Hamels, making his season debut after starting the season on the DL.

Dee Gordon went two-for-three for Los Angeles, including a leg double in the seventh followed by a stolen base to third. Gordon scored on a Justin Turner single. Gordon’s hit dropped into shallow right center and the fleet-footed Dodger never stopped running as he rounded first and scooted into second ahead of the throw.

Gordon is making a strong early case to be the regular second sacker, hitting .369 with 12 stolen bases. The fourth year pro, a former shortstop, is making the transition to second base and is having the best offensive start of his career.

Gordon spent most of 2013 at AAA Albuquerque where he hit .297 and stole 49 bases. If he continues to wield a hot bat he will keep Cuban sensation Alex Guerrero in the minors where he is hitting a sizzling .467 with 11 extra-base hits.

Lee shuts down Dodgers in 7-0 whitewash

Philadelphia southpaw Cliff L:ee was rumored to be on the trading block this off-season but remained with the Phillies – unfortunately for the Dodgers.

Lee tossed eight innings of four-hit ball while Philadelphia was pummeling Paul Maholm in a 7-0 Philadelphia win tonight.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz paced the Phillies with a three-for-four night, including a ninth inning home run off Jose Dominguez, just called up from AAA.

Ryan Howard added a dinger for Philadelphia as they chased Maholm after five innings.

Los Angeles remained a game ahead of San Francisco for the lead in the NL West when the Giants fell to Colorado 8-2.

The Dodgers send Hyun-Jin Ryu (3-1) to the mound tomorrow night against A.J. Burnett (0-1). Ryu has a 1.93 ERA.

Puig makes Diamondbacks pay with three-run shot

When opposing managers read through the Dodger batting order their motto should be “pick your poison.”

Take Arizona manager Kirk Gibson into today’s rubber match at Chavez Ravine. With two outs and a runner at third in a 1-1 ball game, Adrian Gonzalez stepped to the plate and Gibson opted to walk Gonzalez.

Not a bad decision considering Gonzalez has been skinning the snakes his entire career.

But Yasiel Puig made Arizona pay for the decision, driving a Josh Collmenter fastball into the seats in left-center for a three-run homer and a 4-1 Los Angeles advantage.

Puig shined on the field as well, throwing out Miguel Montero trying to stretch a second inning single to a double.

Josh Beckett started the game and pitched five innings of one-hit ball before turning the game over to Jamey Wright, Chris Perez, J.P. Howell and Kenley Jansen. Beckett, who was taking IV fluids the last three days due to flu-like symptoms, has pitched better than his 0-0 record indicates.

In his last two starts Beckett has pitched 10 innings of shutout ball and given up three hits. He has a 2.57 ERA this year after missing most of last season due to injury.

With the win the Dodgers remain a game ahead of San Francisco for first place in the NL West.

Dodgers storm back for 8-6 win over Arizona

After dropping a 12-inning game to Arizona on Friday night, the Dodgers spotted the Diamondbacks a 4-0 lead here tonight before storming back for an 8-6 win behind Dan Haren (3-0).

Haren gave up five runs in seven innings, but only two of them were earned as dropped relay by shortstop Hanley Ramirez opened the flood gates for the Diamondbacks to post a four-run third inning. After Ramirez dropped a potential double play relay the Diamondbacks got a two-run single from Paul Goldschmidt and a run-scoring double from Miguel Montero.

Los Angeles got back into the fray in the bottom of the fourth when Adrian Gonzalez and Matt Kemp singled and Andre Ethier belted a three-run homer to right field off of Arizona rookie Mike Boltsinger, who was pitching for the Reno Aces last week.

Boltsinger started strong in the twilight glare at Chavez Ravine but by the time the Dodgers saw him a second time the shadows were gone and the Los Angeles bats came alive.

The Dodgers plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth when Haren singled, Dee Gordon slapped a single to right and Carl Crawford singled to right to load the bases. Third-sacker Martin Prado then bobbled a sharp grounder by Ramirez that should have been a double play but instead gave the Dodgers a run and left the bases full.

Gonzalez then drove in Gordon and Crawford with a single to right and Kemp followed with a sharp double down the left field line to score Ramirez and Gonzalez.

Brian Wilson pitched the eighth inning and gave up two runs. Kenley Jansen closed the game with a one-hit ninth inning for his sixth save.

The Dodgers send Josh Beckett to the mound tomorrow against Josh Collmenter in the series rubber match.

With the win, the Dodgers took over sole possession of first place in the NL West, one game ahead of San Francisco, 3-1 losers to San Diego.

Ryu outing helps Dodgers avoid sweep

Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched seven innings of shutout ball, holding the Giants to four singles in windy AT&T Park this afternoon, leading the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over San Francisco to salvage the final game of three-game series.

Tim Federowicz and Adrian Gonzalez knocked in a run apiece and Brian Wilson came off the DL to pitch the eighth inning and set up closer Kenley Jansen who surrendered a run in the ninth but held on to get the save.

L.A.’s victory left the Dodgers and Giants knotted atop the NL West at 10-6. The Dodgers return to Los Angeles to start a 10-game homestand. First up is the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have dropped all five matchups against the Dodgers in this young season.

Hanley Ramirez sat out with an injured hand after getting hit by a pitch last night. X-rays showed no break in the hand and Ramirez is planning on being in the lineup tomorrow at Chavez Ravine.

Yasiel Puig made playing right field another adventure with a dropped fly ball, cannon throw to second to force a runner and an over-the-shoulder catch that evoked images of Willie Mays catching a long fly with his back to home plate.

Puig has been getting a lot of attention after a story of his flight from Cuba was published in Los Angeles Magazine and the New York Times. Puig had human traffickers showing up to collect money at spring training and the Dodgers and Major League Baseball have to be hoping the story goes away.

Another bit of good news was a report that Clayton Kershaw pitched a bullpen session today and looks like he is returning to form. The Dodgers are hoping he will come off the DL in May.

Beckett could be a difference in rotation

Dodger right-hander Josh Beckett made his second start of the season last night in San Francisco in a game Los Angeles eventually lost 3-2 in 12 innings.

But Dodger skipper Don Mattingly and pitching coach had to like Beckett’s five innings of two-hit ball and no runs allowed. Granted, Beckett did walk five batters but his control was not the problem.

Beckett refused to give in to Giants batters and was hitting his spots all night. He worked the corners and was almost always near the strike zone. He pitched out of several jams and mixed a cutter, breaking ball and low to mid-90s fastball in the five innings worked.

With Clayton Kershaw still on the DL, the Dodgers need solid innings from the No. 4 and No. 5 pitchers in the rotation, Beckett and Maholm.

Beckett’s 2013 season ended abruptly last May 15 when he went on the DL because of a left groin muscle injury. On July 10, he underwent surgery to have a rib removed to alleviate a nerve problem. He was 0-5 with a 5.19 ERA in eight starts.
 
Beckett will probably never return to the form that won him the 2003 World Series MVP but at 33 he still has fuel in the tank.

Beckett looked strong last night and the Giants couldn’t do much damage against him. If he pitches like he did last night the Dodgers’ rotation should keep Los Angeles in contention until Kershaw can return to the mound.

 
In addition to recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, Beckett's spring was slowed when he slammed a finger in a clubhouse door. Added to his recent ankle problem, Beckett knows age is a factor.

"I guess it's a part of getting old,” he said.

Old at 33 – now there’s a concept.

Dodgers outlast Arizona in 8-6 slugfest

Arizona was happy to see Adrian Gonzalez leave Phoenix this afternoon.

The Dodger first baseman hit a three-run homer, his fourth game in row going yard, to cap a three-game series that saw him drive in 10 runs as Los Angeles posted a three-game sweep.

Gonzalez has hit in nine straight games this season and 10 of his total of 14 hits have gone for extra bases. He has had an extra base hit in eight straight games, one shy of the franchise record.

"You come to a park that's a good place to hit and it makes you a little more aggressive," said Gonzalez, who has 59 RBIs in 59 career games at Chase Field. "You feel better as a hitter."

Matt Kemp and Juan Uribe also went yard as the Dodgers plated eight runs on only seven hits.

While Gonzalez, Kemp and Uribe were flexing the muscle, Dee Gordon was flashing his speed on the base paths.

Gordon drew two of six Dodger walks and stole a career-high four bases, one without a pitch thrown when he took off while reliever Randall Delgado kicked at the rubber.

"I saw the pitcher wasn't paying attention, the fielders weren't paying attention," said Gordon. "I took off. I didn't want to freak out anybody. I tried to be sneaky about it."

Dan Haren (2-0) got the win despite being tagged for nine hits and giving up three runs. Paco Rodriguez, Jamey Wright, J.P. Howell, Chris Perez and Kenley Jansen pitched in relief. Howell, Perez and Jansen stopped the bleeding with no-hit pitching in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Dodgers are off Monday before traveling to San Francisco for a three-game set with the Giants. San Francisco took two of three on a recent road trip to L.A. At 9-4, the Dodgers hold a one-game lead in the NL West.

Uribe, Gonzalez give Greinke run support

When the Dodgers clinched the NL West a year ago they proved to be rude visitors to Arizona’s Chase Field.

Though being asked in advance to not leave the clubhouse after the game the Dodgers held an impromptu pool party in the Diamondbacks’ outfield swimming pool. Even Arizona’s U.S. senators weighed in about the Dodgers apparent lack of social graces.

Well, after winning two games in Australia to open the season the Dodgers ran their 2014 record to 4-0 over the Diamondbacks with an 8-5 win last night at Chase Field.

Juan Uribe hit an opposite field double in the second inning and Adrian Gonzalez went opposite field with a two-run homer in the third inning last night to pace the Los Angeles victory.

Zack Greinke (3-0) got the win, allowing eight hits and one run over 5.1 innings. Greinke is 10-1 over his last 14 starts dating back to last season. Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched a two-hitter over seven innings in LA’s 6-0 win on Friday night.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw threw a bullpen this week and is hoping to get off the DL in May. The Dodgers are being cautious in dealing with a strained back muscle that sidelined the Cy Young award winner.

Gonzalez also homered in Friday night's 6-0 win and has four on the season. He has an eight-game hitting streak and seven-game extra-base hitting streak. Two RBIs gave him a club-high 11 in 12 games. Uribe went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Scott Van Slyke got the start in left against lefty Wade Miley and missed a homerun by two feet with a laser shot double. Yasiel Puig had a pair of hits and his second, a two-out single in the fourth, cashed in Justin Turner's leadoff double for a 5-0 lead.

Dodger relievers Paul Maholm and Brandon League were touched for four runs in the late innings as Arizona mounted a comeback.

The Dodgers send Dan Haren to the bump today seeking a series sweep over the Diamondbacks.

Adrian Gonzalez: Living a SoCal Walter Mitty life

For all of us who played Little League, Senior League and high school baseball in Southern California, Adrian Gonzalez is living the Walter Mitty life we always dreamed about.

Gonzalez was born in San Diego, moved to Tijuana, Mexico at the age of one and returned to San Diego when he was 13.

His older brother Edgar made the big leagues and even played alongside Gonzalez for the Padres. His father David played amateur ball in Mexico and was a first baseman on the Mexican national team.

Gonzalez batted .566 as a junior and hit .645 with 13 homers as a senior at Eastlake High School in Chula Vista. He was named the CIF Player of the Year and San Diego Union-Tribune Player of the Year as a senior in 2000.

He is a career .294 hitter in his 10 major league seasons with 235 home runs. Has been selected to four All-Star teams (2008-11), earned three Rawlings Gold Glove Awards at first base (2008, 2009 and 2011) and took home a Silver Slugger Award in 2011 with Boston.

He drove in at least 100 RBI six times in the last seven seasons, one of only three major leaguers to do so, joining Miguel Cabrera (7) and Prince Fielder (6).

In 2012 Gonzalez helped renovate a Little League field in Tijuana and continues to financially support two baseball fields at Campo Adrian Gonzalez en la Liga Municipal de Tijuana.

Baseball was woven deep into the tapestry of my life as well. Two older brothers, Danny and Mike, were mainstays at Laguna Park (now Ruben Salazar Park) in East Los Angeles before we moved to Bell Gardens when I was seven years old. I was a batboy before a player and have loved the game as long I can remember.

I remember Danny hitting a grand slam against a Mexican all-star team and my father standing in the bleachers and proclaiming, “that’s my boy”.

Last night Adrian Gonzalez went yard and knocked in five runs, going 3-for-4 and pacing the Dodgers to a 6-0 win over Arizona in Phoenix.

I was soon transported back to fond memories of Laguna Park, the Little League field in Bell Gardens next to the oil tanks and the first time I walked up the stairs in the left field bleachers at Dodger Stadium to set my eyes on the greenest grass I had ever seen.

Go Adrian. Go Dodgers.

Gordon wins David v. Goliath matchup

Baseball is all about matchups.

Let’s take the first inning of last night’s Dodgers-Tigers thriller that LA took 3-2 in extra innings.

To start the game the Dodgers sent up fourth-year pro Dee Gordon, trying to win the regular job at second base. Gordon stands 5-11 and weighs 170, which has to include being fully dressed, soaking wet and wearing ankle weights. He is a wisp of man and probably worries about personal security during high winds.

Gordon looked out on the mound at Max Scherzer, 6-3 and 222 lbs. and the possessor of what major leaguers call serious heat. Scherzer hits the gun in the mid to upper 90s on a regular basis and went 21-3 last year with a 2.90 ERA. Numbers good enough to earn the AL Cy Young Award.

Gordon fell behind 1-2 then inexplicably drove a Sherzer fastball into the seats in right-centerfield. Gordon said after the game he “just got lucky” and was hoping for a triple. Gordon’s dinger was the fourth of his career. Not exactly power numbers.

Another matchup – LA’s Dan Haren against the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, perhaps the most feared hitter in the game. Cabrera went yard 44 times last year, knocked in 137 RBI and hit .348. Haren was 10-14 with the Nationals last year with a bulging 4.67 ERA. Cabrera never got the ball out of the infield last night.

Haren didn't get the decision but did pitch six innings of three-hit ball in another strong mound performance.

In the end, Carl Crawford won the game with a double to left field that should have been at least knocked down by Detroit left fielder Rajai Davis who went for the catch, allowing the ball to bounce to the wall. Davis’ misplay allowed Chone Figgins to score from first base with the winning run.

Crawford’s game-winner bailed out closer Kenley Jansen, who blew a save in the bottom of the ninth, and Gordon, who failed to move Figgins to second on a pop-up bunt.

Kemp, Ramirez pace Dodger win over Giants

After getting pasted by San Francisco on Friday and Saturday, the Dodgers rebounded with a 6-2 win over the Giants tonight fueled by two-homer nights by Matt Kemp and Hanley Ramirez and a strong mound performance from Zack Greinke.

Greinke have up two solo dingers to the Giants but otherwise stymied San Francisco and prevented a three-game sweep.

Kemp looked fully recovered from shoulder and ankle surgeries in the off-season and if he returns to form the Dodgers offense could be deadly.

Ramirez, who is a free agent after this year, is swinging the bat with authority. Toss in Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Juan Uribe and the fleet-footed Dee Gordon and Los Angeles should be fun to watch.

After a day off tomorrow the Dodgers host the Detroit Tigers in an interleague set Tuesday and Wednesday. The Dodgers will see AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer on Tuesday. Scherzer is a hard-throwing righty who could give LA fits.

I have been accused (rightly so) of being an eternal optimist.

I saw some good things in the Dodgers 8-4 home opener loss to the dreaded Giants today.

Matt Kemp started in centerfield and hit the ball well, ran the bases like an antelope and looked ready for a new season.

Dee Gordon laid down a two-strike bunt and stole second before moving to third base on an errant throw by Buster Posey.

Andre Ethier and Adrian Gonzalez went yard.

Yasiel Puig was benched for being 45 minutes late to batting practice. (I think is a good thing.)

After Hyun-Jin Ryu imploded on a series of bloop hits and poor defense that led to eight runs in two innings, the Dodgers bullpen of Jose Dominguez, Brandon League, Chris Withrow and Jamey Wright tossed seven innings of no-hit ball.

That's my silver lining for today.

Where is Dr. McCoy when we need him?

Stan Conte, Nancy Patterson Flynn, Greg Harrel, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Dr. John Plosay, Dr. Brian Shafer, Dr. Mary Gendy, Dr. Scott Takano.

For Dodger fans, the names are not exactly household familiar. They make up the medical team for the Dodgers and their work will pay off on the field.

If the Dodgers reach the promised land this year, it will have a lot to do with the success of this group, who are tasked with mending the team experts are picking to win the NL West again and go deep into the playoffs.

Here's a few of the cases the Dodger medical team is working on:

• Clayton Kershaw has a back muscle problem. We hope to see him on the mound in May. 
• Matt Kemp is due back in the lineup soon after off-season shoulder and ankle surgeries. 
• Hanley Ramirez missed much of last year with injuries suffered in the World Baseball Classic and his broken ribs sank the Dodgers in the playoffs.
• Brian Wilson, who got knocked around in relief against the Padres, has an elbow injury and is on the DL.
• Josh Beckett and Chad Billingsley are trying to come back from arm injuries.

Now for some good news. Five games (4-1) into the season and the Dodger pitching has been lights out. Hyun-Jin Ryu has pitched well enough to be 2-0, Zack Greinke shut down the Padres and Dan Haren delivered a strong six innings as LA took two of three from San Diego.

Haren was hit hard by the Angels in an exhibition game but looked strong in winning his LA opener. The Dodgers take on the Giants this weekend in the opening series at Chavez Ravine. Ryu, former Pittsburgh and Atlanta southpaw Paul Maholm and Grienke will pitch against the Giants.

Offensively, the early hitters have been Dee Gordon, Juan Uribe and Carl Crawford, all hitting above .300. Ramirez, Adrian Gonzalez, Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig have yet to warm up. If Kemp is truly ready this weekend the firepower factor increases. Gordon is making an early case to be the starter at second base. When Gordon is hitting and on the basepaths he adds another dimension to the LA offense.