When you're absolutely desperate to score, there's no concern over how the runs happen. Beg, borrow, steal ... or given like an unqualified gift from the baseball heavens.
The
So in the ninth inning after Texas reliever Keone Kela walked a pair of runners but
Hernandez happily trotted home and the Dodgers had a 1-0 victory over the Rangers before a Dodger Stadium crowd of 46,977 to snap their three-game losing streak.
The Dodgers have not lost more than three consecutive games all season.
They held a pregame meeting prior to Thursday's game, presumably to discuss their recent offensive ineptitude. Hey, there was nothing to lose, even if they still managed only five hits.
Zeroes littered the scoreboard all night. Inning after inning, neither team could put up a run.
That the Rangers could not scratch out anything against
And apparently no one should be surprised the Dodgers cannot score against any pitcher. Even someone who entered the game with a 32.40 ERA. Of course, Anthony Ranaudo had thrown only one other game this season, that back on April 15 when the Angels roughed him up for six runs in 1 2/3 innings.
This time out, though, Ranaudo was looking like a prospect taken in the first round by the
Then in the seventh
Which is where the rally ended.
Ranaudo went 6 2/3 innings, holding the Dodgers scoreless on five hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Greinke was even more impressive, not that he had anything to show for it. Again.
This was Greinke's eighth consecutive start in search of his sixth victory this season. He has a 1.99 ERA over that stretch and is 0-3.
He was particularly effective Thursday, shutting out the Rangers for his seven innings on four hits. He did not walk a batter, struck out eight and lowered his overall ERA to 1.81.
Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth to earn the win, striking out two.
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