Dodgers Depth Showcased in Win Over Angels
The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. The Dodgers defeated the Angels in 3 of 4 games they played head to head this week, crowning themselves the Kings of LA.
The Dodgers are now 66-50 on the season and 3 ½ games in front of second place San Francisco in the National League West.
In Thursday’s win over the Angels, the Dodgers showed now much depth the team has.
Los Angeles has one of baseball’s most talented and deepest outfields. The pitching staff has an endless number of talented hurlers.
However, if no one had noticed Miguel Rojas and Justin Turner reminded baseball fans this week that Los Angeles has a good set of bench players up the middle as well.
On Thursday, Turner played second base in place of Dee Gordon. He batted leadoff and reached base safely on three occasions in the Dodgers shutout win 7-0 over the Angels.
Rojas started at shortstop for Hanley Ramirez and made a few spectacular plays in the field while adding two singles on offense from the No. 9 spot in the batting order.
Rojas last started a game for the Dodgers on July 23. He often fills in late in a game for Ramirez who can be error prone.
He made the defensive play of the game during the sixth inning to throw out Collin Cowgill at first after going deep into the hole to grab a grounder.
Turner singled as well as drew two walks of which the first led to the Dodgers first run of the night. His .313 average is second on the Dodgers to outfielder Yasiel Puig.
Turner has proved that he is more valuable to the club than an ordinary utility infielder is.
Don Mattingly the Dodgers manager said Tur
ner has been good for the club from many different standpoints. He has played every position in the infield and has hit the ball very well when he plays, which can be difficult if you do not play on a regular basis.
The Dodgers added to their talented pitching staff by acquiring Roberto Hernandez a veteran right-hander from the Philadelphia Phillies. The Dodgers will name two players later who will be sent to the Phillies.
Hernandez is 6-8 with an ERA of 3.87. He has appeared in 23 games, with 20 as a starter.
Hernandez will step in for Josh Beckett in the Dodgers’ rotation. Beckett has a torn labrum in his hip and will have an MRI to see if he will require surgery.
Hernandez will start for Los Angeles on Friday versus the Milwaukee Brewers.
Hernandez used the name Fausto Carmona through the 2011 season, while pitching for Cleveland. He is earning $4.5 million per season and in November will become a free agent.
The native of the Dominican Republic missed the majority of the 2012 season after he was arrested for falsifying his identity to receive a visa.
With the acquisition of Hernandez, the Dodgers hope to have a fill-in for Beckett, while the right-hander recovers from his torn labrum.
The Dodgers said Hernandez cleared waivers and is eligible to be on their roster for the postseason, should LA reach the playoffs.
