Dodgers get offensive in 15-1 rout of Pirates
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Really, those were your 2011 Los Angeles Dodgers. A regular offensive juggernaut. A barely containable force of human explosiveness.
The Dodgers scored early and often Sunday. They scored via home runs, singles, doubles and botched defensive plays. Scored by walking with the bases loaded, by collecting six singles in an inning.
By the time it was over, they had 23 hits and had rolled over the Pirates, 15-1, before an announced crowd of 37,802 and returned to the .500 mark at 76-76.
Every starter had at least one hit, and James Loney continued his hot streak by collecting a career-high five.
There were gaudy numbers for the Dodgers everywhere. In addition to Loney, Juan Rivera went three for four, scored three runs and drove in four; Jerry Sands went four for six and drove in four runs; and Matt Kemp went three for four with three runs, two RBIs and left the game to chants of ‘MVP!’
And then there was Dee Gordon collecting three hits and scoring three times.
Kemp hit his 34th home run and Sands his third.
There was so much magical hitting in the air, you almost thought Eugenio Velez might actually get into the action. Alas, he flied out, leaving him an amazing 0 for 33 this season.
The Dodgers tied their season high for runs, matching their output in a 15-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on June 27.
The winning pitcher that day was Chad Billingsley, and he was again Sunday. He will not be suing for lack of support.
Billingsley (11-10) went five innings, if five long innings. He gave up one run on four hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. The Pirates went through eight pitchers, though the results looked pretty familiar regardless of who was on the mound. The Dodgers got a hit in every inning and at least one off every pitcher. They led 11-0 after three innings.
Left-hander Brad Lincoln started and lasted 1 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits, including Kemp’s home run.
RELATED:
Do you believe in Jerry Sands?
Finding reasons to appreciate the Dodgers
-- Steve Dilbeck