Now we get a little variety. I promise, I wasn't playing favorites with the Landlubbers getting featured in a couple of games early on in the season. This game looked like a pitcher's duel as each faced the only one over the minimum through the first three innings. Koi struck first on the scoreboard in the fourth with a solo HR by CJ Cron. Both pitchers settled down until the 6th, when Walker allowed a couple of doubles and a HR plating four more runs and chasing Walker from the game and getting into the Dogs bullpen. The Dogs manufactured a run in the bottom of the inning to bring the score to 5-1. A group of relievers finished the 8th for Hellickson who left the game with runners on board. Daniel Murphy came up with a 2-out RBI in the bottom of the 8th to pull within three. Pedro Strop cam in for a clean seven pitch save, lowering his ERA to a hefty 7.71 in the early season.
7.71 is certainly better than Liriano's start to the season!