Dodgers Week 25 In Review: Runs Aplenty At Dodger Stadium

The Dodgers were officially eliminated from the postseason this week, but it was still an exciting week at Dodger Stadium. Gerardo Parra set the spark for some midweek fireworks which enlivened the crowd for a few nights, and the Dodgers kept it going with a trio of weekend drubbings of Pittsburgh.

The Dodgers need to win five of their final nine games to finish with a winning record, and if they score 40 runs in those nine games the Dodgers will average four runs per game for the season.

The Dodgers are 19-7 since August 22, a record matched by the Arizona Diamondbacks and topped only by the white-hot Detroit Tigers, who are 21-6 during that span.

Dodger Batter of the Week: It was a close race, but Jerry Sands takes home this award by collecting 15 hits in 27 at-bats, including three doubles and his first career home run at Dodger Stadium. Sands hit .556/.600/.778 and drove in seven runs for the week.

He narrowly beat James Loney, who had a weekend to remember. On Friday, Loney hit his first career pinch-hit home run, and on Saturday hit a three-run homer for the second straight night. Loney came into Sunday with two home runs and two doubles, but no singles for the week, so he made up for it and then some, with four singles and a double on Sunday for his first five-hit game.

Honorable mention goes to Matt Kemp, who homered twice, stole two bases, and had an under-the-radar .385/.433/.654 week.

Dodger Pitcher of the Week: His one outing this week was brief but memorable, as Clayton Kershaw retired 15 of the first 16 hitters he faced on Wednesday. The 17th batter was Gerardo Parra, and that's when everyone lost their minds.

Honorable mention goes to Josh Lindblom, who struck out seven of the 10 batters he faced this week; and to Kenley Jansen, who struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced.

Week 25 Record:  4-3
39 runs scored (5.57 per game)
24 runs allowed (3.43 per game)
.709 pythagorean winning percentage

Season Record:  76-76
604 runs scored (3.97 per game)
582 runs allowed (3.83 per game)
.517 pythagorean winning percentage (79-73)

Power/Speed Watch: Matt Kemp hit two home runs and stole a pair of bases this week, and through 152 team games, Kemp has 34 home runs and 40 stolen bases. He is on pace for 36 home runs and 42 stolen bases this season.

0-for Watch: Eugenio Velez was 0-for-2 this week, and is closing in on the all-time record for futility by a position player. He is 0 for 33 on the season, and dating back to last season is 0 for his last 42. The record for consecutive at-bats without a hit is 45, jointly held by Craig Counsell and Bill Bergen.

In addition, the record for most at-bats in a season without a hit by a position player is 35, set by Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Hal Finney in 1935.

Welcome To The Bigs, Kid: Tim Federowicz made his first two major league starts this week, catching a total of three games. He picked up his first hit, first RBI, first walk, first HBP, and first runner thrown out. He reached base in five of his nine plate appearances.

Welcome To The Bigs, Kid, Part II: Baseball is said to be a game of adjustments, and pitchers have adjusted the hell out of Justin Sellers of late. The rookie infielder has continued to impress on defense, but he has hit a cold spell at the plate. He was 2 for 15 this week, and has six hits in his last 50 at-bats over the last three weeks.

Transactions: None this week on the field, though word came down that Dodgers' VP of Communications Josh Rawitch will be leaving at the end of the regular season  to join the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Game Results:

• Monday: Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 2
• Tuesday: Diamondbacks 5, Dodgers 4 (10)
• Wednesday: Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 2
• Thursday: Pirates 6, Dodgers 2
• Friday: Dodgers 7, Pirates 2
• Saturday: Dodgers 6, Pirates 1
• Sunday: Dodgers 15, Pirates 1 

Upcoming Week: The Dodgers get their final off day of the year on Monday, then host the Giants for three games, beginning with Clayton Kershaw facing Tim Lincecum on Tuesday night. The Dodgers continue their Chris Brown gauntlet, traveling to Petco Park for a weekend series with the Padres.

Previous Weeks In Review: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24

Week 25 Stats