The crowd of 53,354 was in for some costless baseball last night and a Los Angeles walk off win. The Dodgers and Cubs went to the 12th inning, matching their previous held longest game of the season mark The Dodgers went to extra innings for the second time this week, the ninth time at Dodger Stadium, and the 13th time overall in 2014. The sellout crowd is the highest attended game in the MLB this season except for Opening Day at Dodger Stadium. The night began with Hyun-Jin Ryu taking the mound. Ryu’s outing consisted of seven innings, nine hits, two runs, one walk, six strikeouts, and two double play balls. Ryu threw 108 pitches in the no decision contest due to the extra inning contest. Yasiel Puig came in to pinch hit for Ryu in the seventh inning to end his night. A handful of relief pitchers were called upon to complete the game in the extra inning affair.
Hanley Ramirez crushed his first career walk off home run in the bottom of the 12th off of Blake Parker for the 5-2 win. Ramirez caps off his impressive 3-5 night with three RBI’s, two runs scored, and a walk with a trot around the bases and a crowd of teammates awaiting at home plate to celebrate the win. Drew Butera led off the 12th with a soft groundout, and Adrian Gonzalez followed with a pinch hit strikeout. Dee Gordon singled to center with two outs, and Justin Turner drew a walk. The stage was set for Ramirez with runners on first and second with two outs, and he didn’t disappoint.
Matt Kemp continues to swing a very hot bat, and the Dodgers are glad it’s for them instead of another franchise amid the swirling rumors that Kemp was unhappy with his role and would be dealt at the trade deadline. The Dodgers fell behind 1-0 in the first inning, but Kemp crushed the go ahead two run home run in the fourth. The only hit of the night for Kemp was the homer. The Dodgers are now 10-0 this season when Kemp hits a homer. Justin Turner, playing first for the injured Gonzalez, was 2-5 at the plate. Scott Van Slyke was in center for Puig, going 1-3 before being pinch hit for late in the game by Andre Ethier, who struck out. Ethier has seen limited at bats with the crowded outfield situation in Los Angeles.
The 5-2 walk off victory for the Dodgers gives them the win in the second game of the series with the Cubs, which closes out tomorrow with Josh Beckett on the hill in the afternoon contest. The Dodgers hold a 3 ½ game lead over the Giants in the NL West.