Dodgers pull out another one vs. White Sox
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[August 17, 2017]
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles
Dodgers did it again.
Down by two runs in the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers got to the
Chicago White Sox bullpen. Facing right-handed reliever Jake
Petricka with one out, Yasiel Puig hit a two-run, walk-off double as
the Dodgers scored a 5-4 comeback victory in front of a sellout
crowd Wednesday.
Puig's teammates mobbed him at second base, and the Dodgers
celebrated a 38th comeback win.
"We're down by two. Two runs is not enough (to worry)," Los Angeles
left fielder Enrique Hernandez said. "I don't think there's a big
enough lead right now to be like, 'Oh, the Dodgers are out of a
game,' especially late innings. All I can say is it's an everyday
thing now."
Chicago led 4-2 entering the ninth. Reliever Gregory Infante
recorded the first out, then was replaced by Aaron Bummer. Pinch
hitter Cody Bellinger singled, and the White Sox changed pitchers
again, bringing in Petricka (1-1).
Logan Forsythe's double to left scored Bellinger, cutting the
deficit to 4-3. Austin Barnes' single put runners at the corners for
Puig, who hit a 3-2 pitch to left-center field, ending the game.
The much-anticipated Yu Darvish debut as a Dodger at Dodger Stadium
was unspectacular. He left the game after six innings as a
precautionary measure due to back tightness.
He wasn't involved in the decision and watched in awe with how the
Dodgers (85-34) pulled off another win -- on his 31st birthday.
"When (Darvish) left the game, the manager told him not to worry,"
Puig said through an interpreter. "What better gift on his birthday
than the Dodgers winning."
After the game, Darvish simply tweeted: "OMG."
The White Sox hit four solo home runs, including two from rookie
Nicky Delmonico, but it wasn't enough. One day earlier, Petricka hit
Joc Pederson with the bases loaded to bring in the go-ahead run in
the eighth inning of Los Angeles' eventual 6-1 victory.
White Sox starter Carlos Rodon pitched well in holding the Dodgers
to two runs in 7 1/3 innings Wednesday. He allowed five hits and
four walks while striking out four.
Darvish gave up three runs, all on solo homers, in six innings. He
allowed eight hits and one walk while striking out only two. Two of
the home runs were leadoff shots.
He went out to the mound to pitch the seventh but was met by Dodgers
manager Dave Roberts and a trainer. Darvish left the game, citing
the back issue that he said began in his previous start at Arizona.
"I was going to go out, obviously, but in between innings I talked
to (Clayton) Kershaw a little bit," Darvish said through an
interpreter. "He asked me how I felt, and I told him there was
something with my back. He said, 'We need you really bad in six
weeks. That's when we need you the most.' That's what happened."
Leury Garcia homered on the first pitch of the game from Darvish for
his first career leadoff home run. On Tuesday, Tim Anderson hit Alex
Wood's first pitch for a home run.
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White Sox manager Rick Renteria reacts during a MLB baseball game
against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
"When I got here and I saw the lineup, I (went) straight to T.A. and
said, 'The first pitch I'm going to swing at it. I want to be like
you,'" Garcia said. "And it happened."
It was the first time in franchise history the White Sox homered in
consecutive games on the first pitch.
In the bottom of the first, Forsythe tied the game when he scored on
a wild pitch by Rodon. Even so, Rodon was effective with his
changeup.
"That's a good lineup," Rodon said. "They know how to win. We're
still learning. It's a learning day today. We'll get them next
time."
Darvish gave up his second home run when Delmonico, batting cleanup,
went deep to right in the fourth. Delmonico extended his hitting
streak to 11 games and has reached base safely in all 13 career
games. He added another home run in the eighth on a first-pitch
offering from reliever Tony Watson.
Hernandez led off the fourth inning with a home run off Rodon to
left-center field, tying the game at 2. Hernandez earned himself a
spot in the lineup based on his power against Rodon. He was 2-for-2
with two home runs against the White Sox in Chicago earlier this
season. He made it three home runs in his first four at-bats against
Rodon.
Jose Abreu homered in the sixth inning for a 3-2 White Sox lead.
Dodgers reliever Ross Stripling (2-4) pitched one scoreless inning
for the win.
NOTES: Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (back) threw a 38-pitch,
two-inning simulated game Wednesday. He next is scheduled to throw a
three-inning simulated game in five days or go on a rehab assignment
... White Sox manager Rick Renteria confirmed he was given a World
Series ring by Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer in July at Wrigley
Field. Renteria managed the Cubs in 2014, but the team went 73-89
and he was fired. ... Chicago INF Tim Anderson has three leadoff
home runs this year, including one Tuesday, but he was moved to
eighth in the order because of matchups, according to Renteria.
Anderson has five home runs and 11 RBIs in his past 12 games ...
Dodgers INF/OF Rob Segedin was back in the lineup at first base, and
he went 0-for-3 in his first game since April 18. He had been out
due to a toe strain and wrist surgery.
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