Dodgers complete sweep on Justin Turner’s walk-off single

The Dodgers proved once again that no lead is safe for their opponent. Down 5-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth, the home team went to work on a methodical comeback.

The eventual breakthrough came in the bottom of the ninth when Justin Turner laced an RBI-single through the left side of the infield to complete the Dodgers’ eighth walk-off of the season by the score of 6-5.

The Dodgers are now 71-31 on the season and have won five straight games.

It has become an expectation for the Dodgers to come from behind at any point. Manager Dave Roberts knows better than anyone.

Roberts used his bullpen as if there were a lead to protect the entire time. Nobody would blame Roberts who has seen his team make deficits disappear at will, and with an off day Thursday there was no reason to rest relievers.

With the starting rotation in flux, the Dodgers decided to start Brock Stewart with a pitch limit of 50 to 60 pitches. Stewart received no love from his defense, giving up five unearned runs in three and two-thirds innings.

With Ross Stripling providing the glue to get to the back end of the pen with no further damage, the Dodgers climbed right back in the game.

Joc Pederson got the Dodgers on the board with a solo smash in the fourth that landed halfway up the pavilion in right field. That single run was enough to start the momentum shift.

Yasiel Puig tacked on a blast of his own in the fifth for his 19th of the season to cut the Minnesota lead to 5-2. The last time Puig hit 19 homers in a season was his phenomenal rookie campaign in 2013.

The Dodger offense started coming in waves in the final three inning like they have so many times this year. A two-out double off the bat of pinch-hitter Chase Utley scored a pair in the seventh and Turner brought the tying run home in the eighth on a Logan Forsythe sacrifice fly.

Up next

The Dodgers start a three-game series with the Giants in a battle of lefties. Alex Wood (11-1, 2.17) will take the ball against Matt Moore (3-10, 5.82).

Wednesday particulars

Home runs: Joc Pederson (11), Yasiel Puig (19)

WP - Kenley Jansen (5-0): 1 IP, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts

LP - Brandon Kintzler (2-2): 1.1 IP, 4 hits, 1 run