On a night that saw former Dodger and current Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zack Greinke hit two home runs against the San Diego Padres, saw Bryce Harper homer in his fist game back at Nationals Park as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies, saw San Francisco Giants star left-hander Madison Bumgarner hit a two-run home run against the Dodgers, saw Cody Bellinger hit a grand slam home run to dead center off of Bumgarner, and saw the Dodgers bullpen turn a 5-2 laugher into an intense 6-5 squeaker with the go-ahead run on second base, the Dodgers somehow managed to hang on and win their sixth game of the season over their most hated rivals.

…but it wasn’t easy.

Tuesday night’s culprit – of which there seems to be a different one every night – was Dodgers right-hander Yimi Garcia, who came on in relief of extremely efficient left-hander Caleb Ferguson, who came on in relief of an absolutely stellar Hyun-Jin-Ryu, who gave the Dodgers 7.0 innings in which he allowed only two runs (on the aforementioned Bumgarner home run) on six hits, while walking none and striking out five, needing only 87 pitches to do so. In fact, the last time Ryu walked a batter was on August 26, 2018.

Garcia began the top of the ninth inning by giving up a leadoff double to longtime Dodgers nemesis Evan Longoria and then walking fellow longtime Dodgers nemesis Buster Posey on four pitches, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to get Garcia out of there posthaste.

“Yimi was a tick off,” Roberts would later tell reporters.

With runners on first and second and the once-comfortable 5-2 Dodgers lead now sitting at 6-2 and a save situation now in play, Roberts brought in All-Star closer Kenley Jansen to do what All-Star closer Kenley Jansen does best.

Within minutes and because of a rare (and ugly) error by Jansen himself, the Dodgers were within a heartbeat of a blown save of Ryu’s brilliant performance and in danger of becoming a .500 team.

It did’t happen.

…but only because of a diamond gem by Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager deep in the hole, an outstanding pivot and strong throw by Dodgers second baseman Kiké Hernandez, and a great pick by Dodgers first baseman Max Muncy for a perfectly executed 6-4-3 double play to end the threat, the inning, and the game. (The fact that it was pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval lumbering down the line certainly helped). Suddenly, and with the tying and go-ahead runs at third and second, all was forgiven in the now 6-5 Dodgers win.

Almost.

As expected, social media lit up with cries of burning Yimi Garcia (or the reliever du jour) at the stake, what’s wrong with Kenley, and why must the Dodgers make ever game a heart attack game?

The answer, at least the one given by Jansen after the game and in what many perceived to be smugness but is actually a fact, was “Four and two” … as in four wins and two losses on the new season and sole possession of first place in the National League West.

Play Ball!

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