Home runs by Mark Ellis and Yasiel Puig keyed a five-run 10th inning for the never-say-die Dodgers, who rallied to beat the Blue Jays 8-3 on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The victory continued a remarkable run for the Dodgers, with many accomplishments checked off along the way.
The Dodgers have won 10 straight road games for the first time since moving to Los Angeles. The last time the Dodgers have won at least 10 road games in a row was 1955, when they won their first 11 road contests en route to a 22-2 start and the first World Series win in franchise history.
The Dodgers swept an interleague series (of three games or more) on the road for the first time since 2003, and four only the fourth time since interleague play began in 1997. The Dodgers swept the Indians in Cleveland and the Tigers in Detroit in 2003, and did the same to the Rangers in Arlington in 1998.
For the second time during the road winning streak, the Dodgers found themselves down to their final out, trailing in the ninth inning. On Wednesday, Puig was on first base and tried to steal second when Andre Ethier singled to center. The AstroTurf bounce confounded center fielder Colby Rasmus but given the way Puig was running it might not have mattered anyway.
The win was the sixth in a row overall for the Dodgers, and their 23rd win in their last 28 games.
The Dodgers have scored eight or more runs in four straight games for the first time since Sept. 9-11, 1985.
For a while it looked like that win wasn't in the cards. The Dodgers had chance after chance against Esmil Rogers all night, scalding the ball all over the field. But they only scored two runs in seven innings despite reaching base 12 times.
The Dodgers hit the ball hard against Rogers all night. Puig doubled off the base of the wall in left center field in the third. Carl Crawford doubled off the top of the wall in right field in the sixth. Ethier bounced one into the corner for a double in the seventh. But all were stranded.
Puig had plenty of reasons to hug.In the end though the Dodgers found a way, and they return home undefeated since the All-Star break.
Notes
- Brandon League pitched two scoreless innings to earn his second straight victory. League is the first Dodgers relief pitcher to win back-to-back games since Joe Beimel on April 27-29, 2008.
- Ethier had his second four-hit game of the season, including doubles. In the three-game series Ethier was 8-for-14 (.571) with five doubles and a home run.
- Puig was 3-for-5 with a home run, a double and a walk. His home run in the 10th was his first long ball since July 2, snapping a span of 75 plate appearances without one.
- Mark Ellis got a hit in all six games of the road trip, and hit .440 (11-for-25)
- Paco Rodriguez recorded three outs but allowed an infield single to J.P. Arencibia in the seventh inning (on what was initially called an error on Hanley Ramirez), snapping a streak of 18 consecutive batters retired by Rodriguez, including 10 via strikeout.
Up next
The Dodgers return home for a four-game series against the Reds beginning Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. Zack Greinke starts the opener for the Dodgers, facing Mat Latos for Cincinnati.
Wednesday particulars
Home runs: Mark Ellis (5), Yasiel Puig (9)
WP - Brandon League (5-3): 2 IP, 1 strikeout
LP - Juan Perez (1-2): 1 IP, 4 hits, 5 runs, 2 walks, 1 strikeout