Forget Yasiel Puig, D’backs Still Own Dodgers
By Thomas Lynch
Yasiel Puig didn’t play the last time the Arizona Diamondbacks played the Los Angeles Dodgers back in May. The D’backs swept the hapless Dodgers in L.A. making their record against them 5-1. Surely, the arrival of Puig who had the baseball world talking last week could give the Dodgers a boost against first-place Arizona. Surely, Clayton Kershaw could deliver a victory against a D’back squad who had just lost three out of their last four games and finally stop, at least temporarily, the mastery of the Snakes over Dodger Blue.
Yasiel Puig’s eighth inning single still could not end the D’back mastery over the Dodgers. Image: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Surely, you would be mistaken.
Puig and Kershaw did their parts with the rookie collecting another three hits and the lefty tossing seven tremendous innings. However, the offense in spite of banging out 15 hits, left eight runners on base and grounded into four double plays. Once again, Arizona got to closer Brandon League scoring four runs in the top of the ninth to win the game by an eventual 5-4 score making it six wins in seven tries vs. the Dodgers. Except for the 9-2 win on May 6th, every D’back victory has been won in the eighth inning or later with the team either trailing, tied or ahead by a one run. It is the single biggest reason why the club is in first place and Los Angeles is in last place in the National League West. The D’backs are clutch, the Dodgers are not; AZ manages to win when on the verge of a loss, LA snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. In the six losses, the Dodgers have scored a total of 11 runs.
Going back to last season, Arizona is now 18-7 playing the Dodgers. At some point, one would think this ownership of one of baseball’s flagship franchises will have to cease. Will Yasiel Puig be the guy to help end the mastery? Or will he become just another player wearing Dodger Blue that will succumb to the pressure of facing the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks?
Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @venomstrikes
Follow me on Twitter @ltj41 and at www.clearthebases.net