The Los Angeles Dodgers once again showed their resilience, mounting a ninth-inning comeback on Monday to hand the San Francisco Giants a crushing loss. The scene was all-to-familiar for Giants manager Bruce Bochy, as his bullpen faltered.
Los Angeles now enters play Tuesday night with a six-game lead in the National League West and their magic number to clinch the division down to seven games. In a similar fashion to what’s expected come the playoffs, southpaw Rich Hill follows Kershaw in the rotation.
During his previous outing, Hill suffered his first loss with the Dodgers in a shaky start on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 5.1 innings pitched, he allowed four runs on four hits.
Hill faced the Giants in his debut with the Dodgers, and turned in a dazzling performance. He spun curveballs from multiple angles and held San Francisco to just five hits over six scoreless innings.
The 36-year-old has dominated in his career at Dodger Stadium, including his two starts this season and one in 2007. In 18 total innings pitched at Chavez Ravine, Hill has allowed zero runs on nine hits, while collecting 14 strikeouts.
After dealing with lingering blister issues, Hill has exceeded all expectations placed on him thus far. As the clear-cut No. 2, the starting rotation heading into the playoffs seems to be taking shape.
In 18 starts this season slit between the Oakland Athletics and Dodgers, the 36-year-old is 12-4 with a 2.06 ERA, 2.34 FIP and 0.96 WHIP. Hill is 3-1 with an impressive 1.48 ERA and 0.53 WHIP in four starts with the Dodgers.
As was the case when Hill debuted with the Dodgers, he’s opposed by Johnny Cueto. The right-hander dominated the St. Louis Cardinals in his previous outing, earning a complete-game victory.
The win was Cueto’s 16th of the season. In four starts against the Dodgers in 2016, he’s 2-1 and has surrendered 10 runs in 28.1 innings pitched. Cueto’s loss came in the pitchers’ duel against Hill at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 24.
Cueto allowed one run in six innings, with Justin Turner’s solo home run snapping Cueto’s no-hitter and proving to be the lone scored in the game.
The 30-year-old enters 16-5 with a 2.86 ERA, 3.05 FIP and 1.06 WHIP. Turner is a career 6-for-18 with two doubles, one home run and two RBIs in his career off Cueto. Chase Utley is 10-for-31 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.
The Dodgers added a reliever to the active roster on Tuesday afternoon, reinstating Alex Wood from the 60-day disabled list. Bud Norris was designated for assignment to create room for Wood on the 40-man roster.
Los Angeles and San Francisco have split their 14 head-to-head meetings this year. They’ll meet four more times, including a three-game set at AT&T Park from Sept. 30-Oct. 2.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Josh Reddick
LF: Andrew Toles
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Rich Hill
Giants lineup:
3B: Eduardo Nunez
CF: Gorkys Hernandez
C: Buster Posey
RF: Hunter Pence
LF: Mac Williamson
SS: Brandon Crawford
1B: Brandon Belt
2B: Ehire Adrianza
P: Johnny Cueto
