Grandal powers L.A. in 10th
Dozier makes mark as Dodgers reclaim share of first place with Diamondbacks.
DODGERS 6 MILWAUKEE 4 (10 INN.)
This is not about a first impression. This is about an October impression.
That did not stop Brian Dozier from making a variety of impressions in his Dodgers debut on Wednesday.
The first time he touched the ball — on the very first play of the game — he made a throwing error that turned a triple into a Little League home run. The first time he stepped to bat, he struck out by swinging at a pitch out of the strike zone.
The next time he stepped to bat, he swung at the first pitch and crushed it, 413 feet worth of crush, a drive deep beyond the fence in center field. Dozier circled the bases and returned to the dugout for a hearty round of handshakes and hugs.
And, because this is Hollywood’s team, Dozier took a curtain call — with an assist to Enrique Hernandez, who had to push him up the dugout steps. In his Dodgers debut, Dozier finished a triple shy of the cycle.
But, because this is not actually Hollywood, Dozier did not deliver the winning run. That honor went to Yasmani Grandal, who launched his second home run of the night in the 10th inning, powering the Dodgers to a 6-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers ended a 24hour exile from first place in the National League West, climbing into a tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the division lead.
The victory did not come
easily. In the seventh inning, the Dodgers broke a 2-2 tie when Yasiel Puig singled home Dozier, a feat Puig commemorated with hip thrusts upon his arrival at first base. Hernandez then pulled the squeeze play from the old-school bag of tricks, dropping a nice bunt to score Chris Taylor and give the Dodgers a 4-2 lead with six outs to go. The lead lasted one out. Scott Alexander, the most reliable Dodgers reliever not named Kenley Jansen, allowed five of the first six batters he faced in the eighth inning to reach base. Mike Moustakas doubled home one run, Manny Pina singled home another, and the Brewers had tied the score 4-4.
Dozier was not alone in repenting for his struggles. In the third inning, catcher Grandal failed to locate a loose ball near home plate, allowing Lorenzo Cain to score from second base on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, Grandal terminated a perfect game, nohitter and shutout all on the same swing. After Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson had retired the first 12 batters in order, Grandal homered to lead off the fifth.
Grandal might not be the league’s sharpest defensive catcher, but the Dodgers value his offense. On Wednesday, he batted cleanup for the team that leads the NL in home runs.
Grandal has 19 home runs, the most among major league catchers.
Manny Machado, a twotime Gold Glove winner at third base, put his skills on display at the position, twice charging a ground ball to make a difficult play look smooth, once leaping broadly to his left to convert an apparent line single into a line out, once slinging a rocket to first base from the foul line, and from behind the bag.
The Dodgers acquired Machado last month to play shortstop, his preferred position. Machado is expected to return to shortstop Thursday, when the Dodgers plan to activate third baseman Justin Turner from the disabled list.
Machado agreed to move to third base in Turner’s absence. When they traded for him, the Dodgers said they would ask him to play third when Turner needs a day off.