For the third time in the last five days the Dodgers have used dramatic home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to turn deficits into eventual Dodgers wins. Last Friday night Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner’s eighth-inning solo shot – his second of the night – tied a game in which his exciting bottom-of-the-ninth walk-off single would eventually give the Dodgers a 3-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.

And then on Sunday afternoon Kiké Hernandez’s clutch pinch-hit solo home run in the bottom of the eighth tied a game that the Dodgers would eventually win on a rare walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth.

On Tuesday night it was Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal’s impossible three-run, eighth-inning blast that would turn a 2-0 deficit into an eventual 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals – thanks in no small part to Dodgers new all-times saves leader Kenley Jansen notching his 21st save of the season and 163rd of his career.

But for the second time in as many nights it was the (basically) unnoticed work of two unsung heroes than made these two dramatic eventual Dodger wins even possible. On Monday night it was Dodgers right-hander Joe Blanton’s scoreless inning of relief in the top of the eighth against the Nationals best hitters that bridged the gap between starter Clayton Kershaw and closer Kenley Jansen that played a huge but unheralded role in the Dodgers eventual 4-1 win.

In the top half of the fifth inning of Tuesday night’s game against those same Washington Nationals, Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley made a play that undoubtedly caused infield coaches across the country (well… at least those watching the game) to cringe. With no outs and the Dodgers trailing 2-0, Nats starting pitcher Tanner Roark doubled into the gap in right-center field. It was Roark’s first hit of the season. This brought up Nats leadoff hitter Ben Revere, who hit a hard chopper to Utley. Because the ball was hit to the right side of the Dodgers infield, Roark immediately broke for third base, as he well should have under the circumstances. But instead of going for the sure textbook out at first base, the 37-year-old Utley threw across the diamond to Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner, who promptly tagged out the sliding Roark. Even though it was the wrong play according to every baseball book ever written, the 14-year MLB veteran, who had fielded Revere’s high chopper very quickly, was cognizant of who was on second base – i.e. a pitcher who had very little base running experience – and threw to third instead of first.

There is zero doubt that Utley’s decision to throw to third base instead of first base saved at least one run from scoring and probably more. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Although no one could possibly have known at the time, Utley’s decision would end up preventing at least one run from scoring (and possibly more) when Revere’s fielders choice was followed by a single by Nats left fielder Jayson Werth. This was followed by yet another grounder to Utley by the ever-dangerous Bryce Harper. Utley’s only play was to first base allowing Revere taking second on the play. This brought up the Nats’ best hitter Daniel Murphy, who Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wisely elected to intentionally walk and have Dodgers left-hander Scott Kazmir take his chances with Nats first baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

“Daniel is one of the best hitters in baseball right now,” Roberts told reporters after the game. “No disrespect to Ryan Zimmerman, to load the bases and create a force out anywhere, I’ll take our chances with Zimmerman. It was a gamble and could’ve backfired, but I felt confident.”

It did not backfire.

Kazmir struck out Zimmerman on four pitches to end the inning with no additional runs being scored. But had Chase Utley not gunned down Tanner Roark at third base, Roark absolutely positively would have scored on Jayson Werth’s single.

Fast forward to the top of the eighth inning.

With two outs and Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos standing on second base having doubled to right, Roberts again went to the intentional walk, this time to Nats shortstop Danny Espinoza (who had homered earlier in the game) by Dodgers right-hander Louis Coleman. With runners now at first and second, Roark – yes, the same Tanner Roark – hit a single to Dodgers left fielder Howie Kendrick. With two outs, Ramos was running on contact and every one of the 42,307 on hand at Dodger Stadium thought for sure that he would score on the play – everyone except Howie Kendrick, that is. The 34-year-old Kendrick came up throwing and fired an absolute bullet to Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal to nail Ramos at the plate for the third out of the inning without a run scoring.

Kendrick’s throw to home to nail Wilson Ramos was absolutely perfect.
(Photo credit – Juan Ocampo)

While every member of the media interviewed Yasmani Grandal after the game for his game-winning, eighth-inning three-run home run, no one –  not one person – spoke with Chase Utley or Howie Kendrick about their game-saving defensive plays.

Like I said … unheralded.