Associated Press
Associated Press
TORONTO — Things are going so well for the Los Angeles Dodgers right now, they’re starting to believe that anything is possible and any deficit can be overcome.
Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer, Andre Ethier and Jerry Hairston Jr. added solo shots and the streaking Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-9 Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory and 22nd in 27 games.
“We’re starting to be able to throw some big innings together,” manager Don Mattingly said. “If you can get to the point where you don’t feel like you’re out of games, I think that’s important.”
Gonzalez, Ethier and Mark Ellis each had three RBIs as the Dodgers won their ninth straight road game, matching their longest streak since July 2004.
Even when the Dodgers trailed by five with nine outs remaining, Gonzalez said there was no lack of belief.
“We actually talked about it in one of the pitching changes,” Gonzalez said. “When we gathered on the infield we were like, ‘We’re not that far off, especially in this ballpark. You can put up runs in a hurry.’ Next inning we put up three and then we put up four in the following inning and took the lead.”
Hairston homered in the sixth and Gonzalez erased an 8-6 deficit with a drive to center off Darren Oliver (3-2) in the eighth, his 15th.
“That ball was crushed,” Mattingly said.
One out later, Ethier went deep for the seventh time.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence on this team,” Ellis said. “Especially in a ballpark like this, you feel like you’re never out of the game. This place is right up there with Colorado and Texas as far as never being out of a ballgame.”
Former Blue Jays right-hander Brandon League (4-3) got two outs for the win.
Kenley Jansen allowed J.P. Arencibia’s RBI single in the ninth but finished for his 12th save, getting Brett Lawrie to fly out to the warning track in left with two on.
“That last ball, I’m thinking it’s going,” Mattingly said. “That ball was real close.”
Jose Reyes, Jose Bautista and Mark DeRosa homered for the struggling Blue Jays, who closed their clubhouse for a players-only meeting before the game but couldn’t hold onto an 8-3 lead after six innings.
“Today was a good day to do it,” Bautista said. “After the (All-Star) break we were hoping to come out of the gate strong and we didn’t. So it was a good time to do it. It went well, we aired some things out.”
Toronto has lost a season-worst six straight and 13 of 17.
“It doesn’t get any worse than that, considering where we’re at,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
DeRosa hit his sixth homer in the fourth and Bautista hit his 23rd in the fifth, chasing Dodgers left-hander Chris Capuano. Reyes went deep for the sixth time in the sixth, connecting off Carlos Marmol in his Los Angeles debut.
Marmol allowed three runs and four hits in 1 2-3 innings.
“A little good, a little bad,” Mattingly said.
Reyes hit an RBI double and Bautista singled home a run in the third, but the Dodgers answered with two in the fourth on Ethier’s double and Ellis’ single.
Toronto reclaimed the lead in the bottom half. DeRosa hit a one-out homer, and Rajai Davis doubled and scored on Lawrie’s sacrifice fly.
Marmol came on after Bautista homered in the fifth, but couldn’t contain the damage. Arencibia doubled to begin the sixth and scored on Lawrie’s single, and Reyes followed with a line-drive homer to right.
Los Angeles cut it to 8-6 with a three-run seventh against All-Star reliever Brett Cecil. Ethier drew a bases-loaded walk and Ellis hit a two-run single. The Dodgers left the bases loaded when Ethier was forced out at home plate on Nick Punto’s comebacker.
Carl Crawford singled off Oliver to begin the eighth and Yasiel Puig walked before Gonzalez homered on a 1-1 pitch.
“For me, Adrian’s been our guy all year,” Mattingly said. “I know Hanley (Ramirez) has been really hot, but Adrian has just been there the whole season for us. He doesn’t get the same attention because he’s kind of been consistent.”
Neither starter figured in the decision. Blue Jays right-hander Todd Redmond allowed three runs and seven hits in a career-high 5 2-3 innings. He matched his career high with six strikeouts.
Capuano allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings.
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp sat out his second straight game with a sore left ankle. Kemp is expected to miss the entire three-game series.
NOTES: The Dodgers opened a roster spot for Marmol by placing RHP Jose Dominguez on the 15-day DL with a strained left quadriceps. … The Blue Jays bumped OF Melky Cabrera up from fifth to second in the order, dropping Bautista to third and Edwin Encarnacion to fourth. … Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt will be away from the team for several days following the death of his mother-in-law, Mattingly said. Bullpen coach Chuck Crim will replace Honeycutt, and minor league pitching coordinator Rafael Chaves will take over for Crim.