Dodgers Week 22: Turning things around

What was shaping up to be a disastrous week took a turn for the better on hump day, and helped the Dodgers break even for the week and gain another game on the Giants in the National League West.

The Dodgers scored just one run in two games in Colorado of all places, giving them just 10 total runs in a seven-game stretch, then were down 8-2 in the eighth inning on Wednesday’s series finale against the Rockies. Three runs in the eighth gave way to five more in the ninth, including Andrew Toles’ grand slam to give the Dodgers the lead, and their signature moment of the season to date.

That was followed up by taking two of three games against the Padres at home over the weekend, building some momentum and some distance in the division with just four weeks remaining in the regular season.

Dodgers batter of the week

This one goes to Andrew Toles in a close battle, even though he only had nine plate appearances. In addition to the signature slam, he hit .500 with a triple and a double as well. Yasiel Puig also hit .500 with a home run and two walks after returning from Triple-A, and Josh Reddick shook off the cobwebs to go 7-for-13 with a home run of his own. That, and Yasmani Grandal continued his power display with two more home runs and team-leading seven RBI for the week.

Dodgers pitcher of the week

Rich Hill did the job again, with six more scoreless innings in his second start as a Dodger, taking a no-hitter into the sixth against the Padres while striking out eight. Kenley Jansen gets a mention for striking out seven of his 10 batters faced, pitching three scoreless innings while picking up two saves.

Week 22 summary

Record: 3-3
25 runs scored (4.17 per game)
32 runs allowed (5.33 per game)
.389 pythagorean record

2016 to date

Record: 76-60
610 runs scored (4.49 per game)
548 runs allowed (4.03 per game)
.549 pythagorean record (75-61)

Miscellany

Welcome aboard: With a win in his major league debut on Sunday, Jose De Leon struck out nine, trailing only Kaz Ishii and Pedro Astacio (10 each) for most strikeouts in an LA Dodgers debut. Since he didn’t issue any free passes, De Leon became just the fifth major league pitcher since 1913 to strike out nine with no walks in his major league debut, and the first since Stephen Strasburg in 2010.

Transactions

Monday: Kenta Maeda was recalled from the Arizona rookie league to start against the Rockies, and Brock Stewart was optioned to Double-A Tulsa.

Tuesday: Casey Fien was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Pedro Baez was optioned to Tulsa.

Wednesday: Luis Avilan was called up for one day as the 26th man in second game of the doubleheader against the Rockies.

Friday: Yasiel Puig, Austin Barnes and Josh Fields were recalled from Oklahoma City, while Louis Coleman and Josh Ravin were activated from the disabled list.

Sunday: Jose De Leon was recalled from Oklahoma City to start and make his major league debut.

Game results

Monday: Rockies 8, Dodgers 1

Tuesday: Dodgers at Rockies ppd., rain

Wednesday: Rockies 7, Dodgers 0; Dodgers 10, Rockies 8

Friday: Padres 4, Dodgers 2

Saturday: Dodgers 5, Padres 1

Sunday: Dodgers 7, Padres 4

Upcoming week

The Dodgers run the Danny Bautista gauntlet, facing old friend Zack Greinke and the Diamondbacks for three games at home, followed by the start of a road trip with three games against Don Mattingly’s Marlins in Miami.

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 stats

Batting

Pitching