TORONTO (AP) ― Things are going so well for the Los Angeles Dodgers right now, they’re starting to believe that anything is possible and any deficit can be overcome.
Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, Andre Ethier and Jerry Hairston Jr. added solo shots and the streaking Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory and 22nd in 27 games.
“We’re starting to be able to throw some big innings together,” manager Don Mattingly said. “If you can get to the point where you don’t feel like you’re out of games, I think that’s important.”
Gonzalez, Ethier and Mark Ellis each had three RBIs as the Dodgers won their ninth straight road game, matching their longest streak since July 2004.
Even when the Dodgers trailed by five with nine outs remaining, Gonzalez said there was no lack of belief.
“We actually talked about it in one of the pitching changes,” Gonzalez said. “When we gathered on the infield we were like, ‘We’re not that far off, especially in this ballpark. You can put up runs in a hurry.’ Next inning we put up three and then we put up four in the following inning and took the lead.”
Hairston homered in the sixth and Gonzalez erased an 8-6 deficit with a drive to center off Darren Oliver (3-2) in the eighth, his 15th.
“That ball was crushed,” Mattingly said.
One out later, Ethier went deep for the seventh time.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence on this team,” Ellis said. “Especially in a ballpark like this, you feel like you’re never out of the game. This place is right up there with Colorado and Texas as far as never being out of a ballgame.”
Former Blue Jays right-hander Brandon League (4-3) got two outs for the win.
Kenley Jansen allowed J.P. Arencibia’s RBI single in the ninth but finished for his 12th save, getting Brett Lawrie to fly out to the warning track in left with two on.
“That last ball, I’m thinking it’s going,” Mattingly said. “That ball was real close.”
Jose Reyes, Jose Bautista and Mark DeRosa homered for the struggling Blue Jays, who closed their clubhouse for a players-only meeting before the game but couldn’t hold onto an 8-3 lead after six innings.
“Today was a good day to do it,” Bautista said. “After the (All-Star) break we were hoping to come out of the gate strong and we didn’t. So it was a good time to do it. It went well, we aired some things out.”
Toronto has lost a season-worst six straight and 13 of 17.
Cincinnati 9, San Francisco 3 Gm. 1
San Francisco 5, Cincinnati 3 Gm. 2
Minnesota 10, LA Angels 3
Pittsburgh 5, Washington 1
Boston 6, Tampa Bay 2
NY Mets 4, Atlanta 1
NY Yankees 5, Texas 4
Detroit 6, Chicago White Sox 2
Kansas City 3, Baltimore 2
San Diego 6, Milwaukee 2
Houston 5, Oakland 4
St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 1
Miami 4, Colorado 2
Arizona 10, Chicago Cubs 4
Seattle 4, Cleveland 3
Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, Andre Ethier and Jerry Hairston Jr. added solo shots and the streaking Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory and 22nd in 27 games.
“We’re starting to be able to throw some big innings together,” manager Don Mattingly said. “If you can get to the point where you don’t feel like you’re out of games, I think that’s important.”
Gonzalez, Ethier and Mark Ellis each had three RBIs as the Dodgers won their ninth straight road game, matching their longest streak since July 2004.
Even when the Dodgers trailed by five with nine outs remaining, Gonzalez said there was no lack of belief.
“We actually talked about it in one of the pitching changes,” Gonzalez said. “When we gathered on the infield we were like, ‘We’re not that far off, especially in this ballpark. You can put up runs in a hurry.’ Next inning we put up three and then we put up four in the following inning and took the lead.”
Hairston homered in the sixth and Gonzalez erased an 8-6 deficit with a drive to center off Darren Oliver (3-2) in the eighth, his 15th.
“That ball was crushed,” Mattingly said.
One out later, Ethier went deep for the seventh time.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence on this team,” Ellis said. “Especially in a ballpark like this, you feel like you’re never out of the game. This place is right up there with Colorado and Texas as far as never being out of a ballgame.”
Former Blue Jays right-hander Brandon League (4-3) got two outs for the win.
Kenley Jansen allowed J.P. Arencibia’s RBI single in the ninth but finished for his 12th save, getting Brett Lawrie to fly out to the warning track in left with two on.
“That last ball, I’m thinking it’s going,” Mattingly said. “That ball was real close.”
Jose Reyes, Jose Bautista and Mark DeRosa homered for the struggling Blue Jays, who closed their clubhouse for a players-only meeting before the game but couldn’t hold onto an 8-3 lead after six innings.
“Today was a good day to do it,” Bautista said. “After the (All-Star) break we were hoping to come out of the gate strong and we didn’t. So it was a good time to do it. It went well, we aired some things out.”
Toronto has lost a season-worst six straight and 13 of 17.
Cincinnati 9, San Francisco 3 Gm. 1
San Francisco 5, Cincinnati 3 Gm. 2
Minnesota 10, LA Angels 3
Pittsburgh 5, Washington 1
Boston 6, Tampa Bay 2
NY Mets 4, Atlanta 1
NY Yankees 5, Texas 4
Detroit 6, Chicago White Sox 2
Kansas City 3, Baltimore 2
San Diego 6, Milwaukee 2
Houston 5, Oakland 4
St. Louis 4, Philadelphia 1
Miami 4, Colorado 2
Arizona 10, Chicago Cubs 4
Seattle 4, Cleveland 3
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Articles by Korea Herald