True Blue L.A.: Dodgers June In Review: Riding Out The June Swoon

Favorite Game of the Month:  In the span of one week, the Dodgers had three comeback wins in games they had no business winning (against the Diamonbacks, then the Phillies twice), and of course there was the Ethier three-dinger game, but my favorite game of June came on the penultimate day of the month.  The Dodgers trailed the Rockies 2-0, but scored the tying runs by a two-RBI single by pitcher Randy Wolf, after he induced a balk by trying to call time.  Then, the Dodgers used all seven members of their bullpen to pitch one inning apiece before Andre Ethier—who else?—ended the game with yet another walk-off home run.

Celebrity_jeopardy_connery_mediumThe Pen Is Mightier:  The Dodger bullpen was lights out in June, allowing only a 2.31 ERA and 1.018 WHIP.  Only three members of pen had an ERA above 2.16 for the month—two were optioned to the minors (Cory Wade, Travis Schlichting), and the other was closer Jonathan Broxton, who still struck out 21 batters versus 11 baserunners in his 11.2 innings.

Empty Bench:  Not counting the six games in which a bench player started at designated hitter, the eight active Dodger regulars in June started 195 of 211 possible games, or 92.4% of the time.  Perhaps that is a good thing, since the Dodger bench only hit .190/.257/.230, with six runs, five RBI, and six walks for the entire month.

Amazing Stat of the Month:  Russell Martin did finally hit his first home run of the season in June, but he managed to go through June without driving in another Dodger, in all of 94 plate appearances.  He has just the one RBI in his last 115 PA, since Memorial Day.