NL Worst of the Night: Dodgers' Josh Lindblom Blows It in the 9th

Josh Lindblom has been one of the bright spots for the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen all season long.

In 32 appearances, Lindblom accumulated a 2-0 record and 2.12 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 34 innings. The Dodgers have had some bullpen issues this season, but not because of Lindblom. He's been rock-solid reliable for manager Don Mattingly. 

Well, everyone has a bad night now and then. Thursday was one of those times for Lindblom.

Clayton Kershaw pitched a gem for the Dodgers, holding the Oakland Athletics to one run and three hits over eight innings. Unfortunately for him, the Dodgers lineup could only score one run against Travis Blackley. We had a pitchers duel for eight innings until both starters ceded to their respective bullpens.

Pitching the ninth for Oakland, Ryan Cook walked Matt Treanor to begin the inning. Usually that's trouble for a reliever. But Treanor was wiped out on a ground ball by Dee Gordon. Then Gordon gave the A's a second out by getting thrown out trying to steal second base. Cook struck out Elian Herrera, completing an improbable 1-2-3 inning.

Lindblom came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth. He walked the leadoff hitter, Coco Crisp, after getting ahead on a one-ball, two-strike count. But this baserunner wouldn't be wiped out on a ground ball. Crisp advance to second on a wild pitch from Lindblom. He was then moved to third on a bunt single by Jemile Weeks. 

Two runners on, no outs in the inning. Lindblom was in a jam, with Yoenis Cespedes coming to the plate. With first base open, would the Dodgers walk Cespedes to try and set up a force out play? Or would they take their chances and pitch to Cespedes?

The Dodgers opted for the latter. Two pitches later, Cespedes showed them that was a bad idea. The rookie turned on a fastball and hit a rocket down the left field line for a three-run walkoff home run. 

Watch the video here.

Lindblom's final line: three runs, two hits, one walk and a home run. He didn't record an out. Thursday was only the sixth appearance out of 32 this season in which Lindblom gave up a run. 

But even though Lindblom's outing didn't go very well, let's be fair to him and Kershaw. Giving up one run should be plenty good enough to win a ballgame. But the Dodgers only scored one run of their own. And in the three games against Oakland, they scored a total of three runs, generating only eight hits.

Eight hits. Maybe the Dodgers' lineup should get NL Worst of the Night honors.

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