It’s something that we’ve heard since opening day – the Dodgers need production out of the middle of their line-up to be successful. The problem, of course, is that it hasn’t happened – not even a little bit. When the middle of your line-up includes the names Kemp, Gonzalez, Ramirez and Ethier, opposing pitchers are supposed to tremble; instead they laugh.

A big part of the problem has of course been the never-ending injuries, especially to Hanley Ramirez, one of the key components of this supposedly fearsome foursome. Add to that the injuries to Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp and a slew of others and you can see why the production out of the middle of the Dodger line-up has been a disaster.

But on Sunday afternoon something happened with the middle of the Dodger line-up – something good. In the top of the 9th in a 1-1 tie against the San Diego Padres, Adrian Gonzalez hit a solo home run off of Padres closer Huston Street; and then Hanley Ramirez hit a solo home run on the very next pitch. It was the first time that the Dodgers have gone back-to-back this season. The two solo shots were followed by an Andre Ethier single, but he was left on base – the 29th Dodger LOB in the four-game series. (Note: The Dodgers were a dismal 4 for 31 [.129] with runners in scoring position during the series).

Adrian Gonzalez hit his second home run in as many days to break a 1-1 tie in an eventual 3-1 win over the Padres on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

As great as Sunday’s win over the Padres was to secure a series split, it is difficult to get too excited about it. Keep in mind that the Dodgers’ longest winning streak this season has only been three games, which they have accomplished twice. Now, should the Dodgers sweep the Giants at Dodger Stadium over the next three nights, then it’s time to begin to get excited. In spite of the fact that the Fat Panda is scheduled to return to the Giants line-up on Monday, the Giants once dominant pitching staff has struggled of late, so a sweep is definitely possible – if the middle of the Dodger line-up can continue to produce, that is.

As it stands right now, the catalyst for the sudden surge by the middle of the Dodger line-up has unquestionably been Hanley Ramirez, who has now hit four home runs in the 19 games that he has appeared in since returning from the DL and two in two days (including a monster shot on Saturday afternoon that was still climbing when it hit the top level of the Western Metal Supply building at Petco Park). And though A-Gon’s home run on Sunday was also his second in two days and his 10th of the season, it has taken him 74 games to get there.

Hanley Ramirez is congratulated by teammates after also hitting his second home run in two days. It was the first time this season that Dodgers hitters have gone back-to-back.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

The fourth element of the fearsome foursome, Matt Kemp, is currently rehabbing with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes and will most likely return to the Dodger line-up later this week. However, Kemp is 1 for 7 with five strikeouts in his two rehab games thus far, so it’s kind of difficult to get overly excited about his return.

Could these two consecutive wins finally be the turning point of the 2013 season for the Dodgers?

“We’ve said that how many times this year?” Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis said when asked that question.

Truth spoken.