Andre Ethier has healthy-looking slam in 8-5 win over Padres
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Andre Ethier, enigma. Works for the Dodgers. Works for them right now, anyway.
Ethier talked like a guy who wanted to leave the Dodgers, and then said he wanted to stay. Complained he’s playing on a bad knee but the Dodgers told him to suck it up, and then said playing was always his decision.
Say this for Ethier, his knee has looked plenty healthy the past two games.
Since causing a mini-storm when comments about his knee came out Sunday in a column by The Times’ T.J. Simers, and then having a closed-door meeting with Manager Don Mattingly and General Manager Ned Colletti, Ethier has been hitting up a storm.
Ethier highlighted his two-game resurgence Tuesday with a grand slam, capping an eight-run second inning that held up for an 8-5 victory over the Padres before an announced crowd of 36,589.
Ethier is six for eight since being called into the manager’s office. This bad boy thing must be inspiring, at least to Ethier. His last home run came July 25.
In his 14 previous games before the brouhaha, Ethier was five for 48 (.104) without an extra-base hit or RBI.
Ethier’s third career grand slam was the high point of what could successfully be called a wild second inning.
Padres starter Tim Stauffer had an inning to bury deep in his memory banks. Unless there’s a possibility of walking six in a single inning – three to force in runs, including opposing pitcher Hiroki Kuroda – is something he figures to cherish. Stauffer kept walking people, and Padres Manager Bud Black left him out there to twist in the wind. When he finally walked Juan Rivera to force in the Dodgers’ fourth run, Black called on right-hander Anthony Bass to face Ethier, who had actually started the inning with a single.
Ethier lined Bass’ first pitch over the right-field wall and the Dodgers had an 8-0 lead. It was the most runs the Dodgers scored in a single inning since May 26, 2009 at Coors Field. Also, Bass walked one more, giving the Dodgers seven walks in the inning.
At this point, Kuroda might even be getting used to pitching with a lead. After the Dodgers scored a total of 31 runs in a stretch of 15 starts for Kuroda, they have now scored 33 runs in his last four starts.
Kuroda pitched well enough until the Padres got to him for four runs in the sixth. Jesus Guzman doubled in one run, before Kyle Blanks hit a two-run homer and Orlando Hudson followed with a solo shot. The Padres did not have a single batter in their lineup with more than seven home runs to start the night.
By the night’s end, 12 Dodgers had walked. It was the most for the Dodgers since April 21, 1999 when 14 Dodgers walked.
Kuroda won his career-high fourth consecutive game, bringing his record to 11-14. Javy Guerra pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save.
It was Dodgers’ seventh victory in eight games.
RELATED:
Dodgers reliever Scott Elbert proves to be a keeper
Dodgers’ Andre Ethier returns to lineup
-- Steve Dilbeck