|
 Gordon, whose spot is adjacent to Robinson's, is frequently
sought out by the media. Robinson? Not so much.
That changed Monday night.
Robinson's pinch-hit, RBI single in the seventh inning boosted the
Los Angeles Dodgers to a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians
before 45,627 fans at Dodger Stadium.
For Robinson, it was the first hit of his major league career. Just
five days ago, the 29-year-old career minor-leaguer had his contract
purchased by the Dodgers from Triple-A Albuquerque for only his
second trip to the Show.
"I was just looking for something in the strike zone and to put the
bat on the ball," said Robinson, who was 0-for-2 with a walk before
Monday. "Right then, if it would have worked out that I would have
taken a walk, I would have, but he threw in the strike zone, so I
couldn't really do that."
The win gave the Dodgers (48-37) sole possession of first place in
the National League West, a half-game ahead of the idle San
Francisco Giants. It is the first time Los Angeles is on top since
April 24.
The Indians (39-43) dropped their third game in the past four and
their eighth in the past 11.
Dodgers starter Dan Haren (8-4) threw one-hit, shutout ball over
seven innings, striking out five and walking one on 103 pitches (65
strikes). He retired the final 13 batters he faced. The lone hit
Haren allowed was an infield single by center fielder Michael Bourn
in the third inning, which first base umpire Adrian Johnson
initially ruled as an out before a replay review requested by
Cleveland manager Terry Francona overturned the call.
"I thought Haren pitched really well," Francona said. "Threw a lot
of strikes and stayed out of the middle of the plate the entire
game. He threw enough cutters in to where he broke a couple of bats
or jammed us and got us to thinking in. I didn't see a whole lot of
mistakes he made."
Reliever Brian Wilson worked a perfect eighth, and closer Kenley
Jansen shut the door in the ninth for his 25th save. Overall, Haren
and the two relievers retired the final 19 Cleveland batters.
"His last game in Kansas City was kind of the only game he didn't
have the same bite on the ball," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said
of Haren. "I'm sure he was on a little bit of a mission to get back
on track tonight."
Dodgers left fielder Andre Ethier tripled off the wall in left to
open the seventh, and he scored on Robinson's two-out single up the
middle.
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"Man, that feels good," said Robinson, a first baseman whose only
other trip to the big leagues was for four games with the Kansas
City Royals in 2012. "It put us in a position to win the ballgame.
It was awesome. The crowd cheering and all the teammates
fist-pumping and all that kind of stuff. It was great."
Robinson's hit was enough to chase Cleveland starter Corey Kluber,
who gave up a run on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Kluber (7-6) struck
out five and issued one walk, which was intentional. He threw 107
pitches (67 strikes).
"I thought Kluber was tremendous. Just really good," Francona said.
"He was outstanding."
Both teams threatened early, but neither scored.
In the third inning, Cleveland right fielder David Murphy drew a
walk, was sacrificed to second by Kluber and advanced to third on an
infield single by Bourn, who stole second. However, Haren fanned
shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera to end the threat.
Los Angeles first baseman Adrian Gonzalez reached on a one-out
single in the fourth. Gonzalez went to third on a double by left
fielder Matt Kemp, but Ethier struck out and third baseman Juan
Uribe flied out to center to end the inning.
NOTES: The game marked the 34th consecutive contest Dodgers starters
walked two or fewer batters, the longest streak in the National
League since 1914. ... Indians C/1B Carlos Santana, originally
signed by the Dodgers as a non-drafted free agent in 2004, faced his
old club for the first time. Santana was traded by Los Angeles to
Cleveland for 3B/1B Casey Blake in 2008. ... The Indians possess the
American League's worst road mark, 16-28. ... The clubs are meeting
for only the second time at Dodger Stadium and the first time since
2008. ... Former Dodgers pitcher Bobby Castillo, who is credited
with teaching Fernando Valenzuela how to throw a screwball, died
Monday morning from cancer. He was 59.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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