ANAHEIM -- The bottom of the order came through for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, and Zack Greinke and the bullpen didn't let a third lead slip away in a 7-5 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.
Scott Van Slyke had a career-high four hits, drove in four runs and scored another while hitting in the No. 8 spot, and pinch hitter Justin Ruggiano added a pinch-hit, two-run double for the Dodgers, who have won a franchise-best seven in a row against the Angels.
How it happened: The Angels used the long ball to erase two early deficits against Greinke before the Dodgers took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Van Slyke led off with a single and took second on one of three singles by No. 9 hitter Joc Pederson. After a strikeout by Carl Crawford, second baseman Chase Utley hit a line drive at Angels second baseman Taylor Featherston, who appeared to have a shot at doubling up Pederson at first, but the ball glanced off his glove and into short right field, loading the bases. Adrian Gonzalez then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field off reliever Cesar Ramos for a 4-3 lead. Van Slyke provided insurance in the seventh when he grounded an infield single off the pitcher, scoring two runs for a 6-3 lead, and again with his third infield single of the game in the eighth, driving in another run to stretch the lead to 7-5.
What it means: The Dodgers increased their advantage in the NL West to 8½ games over the San Francisco Giants and lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to 17 with the win. They've also won 12 of 14 games to move a season-high 21 games over .500.
Notable: Crawford stole second base after a leadoff single in the first, the 17th stolen base in 18 attempts for the Dodgers, whose 17 thefts since Aug. 29 leads the majors. ... Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner entered the game fourth in the NL with a .345 average with runners on base this season and went 2-for-4 in that situation Monday. ... Greinke gave up multiple home runs for just the second time this season and was lifted after throwing a season-low 89 pitches over six innings. The
ANAHEIM -- The bottom of the order came through for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night, and Zack Greinke and the bullpen didn't let a third lead slip away in a 7-5 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.
Scott Van Slyke had a career-high four hits, drove in four runs and scored another while hitting in the No. 8 spot, and pinch hitter Justin Ruggiano added a pinch-hit, two-run double for the Dodgers, who have won a franchise-best seven in a row against the Angels.
How it happened: The Angels used the long ball to erase two early deficits against Greinke before the Dodgers took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Van Slyke led off with a single and took second on one of three singles by No. 9 hitter Joc Pederson. After a strikeout by Carl Crawford, second baseman Chase Utley hit a line drive at Angels second baseman Taylor Featherston, who appeared to have a shot at doubling up Pederson at first, but the ball glanced off his glove and into short right field, loading the bases. Adrian Gonzalez then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field off reliever Cesar Ramos for a 4-3 lead. Van Slyke provided insurance in the seventh when he grounded an infield single off the pitcher, scoring two runs for a 6-3 lead, and again with his third infield single of the game in the eighth, driving in another run to stretch the lead to 7-5.
What it means: The Dodgers increased their advantage in the NL West to 8½ games over the San Francisco Giants and lowered their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to 17 with the win. They've also won 12 of 14 games to move a season-high 21 games over .500.
Notable: Crawford stole second base after a leadoff single in the first, the 17th stolen base in 18 attempts for the Dodgers, whose 17 thefts since Aug. 29 leads the majors. ... Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner entered the game fourth in the NL with a .345 average with runners on base this season and went 2-for-4 in that situation Monday. ... Greinke gave up multiple home runs for just the second time this season and was lifted after throwing a season-low 89 pitches over six innings. The only other time Greinke gave up more than one homer this season was Aug. 22 in a 3-1 loss at the Houston Astros, his only defeat in his previous 15 starts. ... Pederson had more than one single in a game for the first time since May 25.
Up next: Dodgers hurler Clayton Kershaw (12-6, 2.18 ERA) will face off against fellow left-hander Andrew Heaney (6-2, 3.18 ERA) of the Angels for the second time this season. Kershaw threw eight shutout innings in a 3-1 victory against Heaney and the Angels on Aug. 1.only other time Greinke gave up more than one homer this season was Aug. 22 in a 3-1 loss at the Houston Astros, his only defeat in his previous 15 starts. ... Pederson had more than one single in a game for the first time since May 25.
Up next: Dodgers hurler Clayton Kershaw (12-6, 2.18 ERA) will face off against fellow left-hander Andrew Heaney (6-2, 3.18 ERA) of the Angels for the second time this season. Kershaw threw eight shutout innings in a 3-1 victory against Heaney and the Angels on Aug. 1.
