The Dodgers followed last night’s first win ever at Kauffman Stadium by picking up another win, this one by a score of 5-4. Dan Haren started the game for the Dodgers, going 4 1/3 innings. Haren gave up four runs on five hits, striking out two and walking two. Haren ran into trouble by giving up two long balls to the Royals, one in the third and one in the fifth.
Jamey Wright came into the game in relief, picking up the win and improving his record to 3-2. Wright struck out Alex Gordon to end the fifth inning, and pitched out of a sixth inning jam to keep the score tied at four. JP Howell, Brandon League, and Brian Wilson finished the game off. After his appearance tonight, League now leads 2014 MLB pitchers in innings without allowing a home run, sitting just above 37 innings.
Wilson saw some familiar territory by coming in for the save and capturing his first of the season. Wilson was a dominant closer with the Giants before a few surgeries and then signing with Los Angeles.
Matt Kemp homered in the second inning to tie the game at one. Dee Gordon crushed a triple off the wall in the third for his ninth triple of the season. He scored on a balk with Yasiel Puig at the plate. Gordon finished the night 4-5, stole his 40th base, and scored two runs. Puig followed the Gordon triple with a triple of his own, his fourth of the season, good for back to back Dodger triples.
Puig scored on a sacrifice fly from Adrian Gonzalez. The Gordon and Puig combination struck again in the fifth after Gordon singled and Puig drove him in with a double to left field. Los Angeles took the lead in the eighth inning, beginning with a leadoff single by Gonzalez. Andre Ethier singled to right field, and Scott Van Slyke walked to load the bases. A.J. Ellis was hit by a pitch that walked in a run and gave the Dodgers the 5-4 lead and eventual win.
The Dodgers move to 44-36 and three games behind the NL West leading Giants. The boys in blue will head back to Chavez Ravine to begin a four game series with the Cardinals.