Dodgers rally to 50 games over .500

August 16th, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers continued their historic 2017 run, using a five-run eighth inning to beat the White Sox, 6-1, on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, becoming the first team since the 2004 Cardinals to be 50 games over .500.
The Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball at 84-34, reached 50 wins at home for the third straight season. They are on pace to win 117 games, one more than the Major League record shared by the 2001 Seattle Mariners and the 1906 Chicago Cubs.
For Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who grew up following the Dodgers, he's not taking his club's historic pace lightly.
"It's a credit to the guys in the clubhouse," Roberts said. "It's really special. I know personally, having worn this uniform as a player and knowing a lot of guys that played before, it's pretty special."
On the first pitch of the game, deposited a 91-mph fastball from Alex Wood over the left-field fence to put the White Sox ahead early, but the Dodgers southpaw settled in, shutting down the South Siders over seven innings while striking out six. tied the game at 1-1 with his bases-loaded sac fly in the sixth, but Wood settled for a no-decision in his bid to tie for the Major League wins lead at 15.
Anderson's surge continues with leadoff homer
After the Dodgers loaded the bases in the eighth, righty Jake Petricka plunked to give L.A. its first lead, then followed with a two-run single and added a two-run double to give the Dodgers a 6-1 advantage they would not relinquish.

Chicago righty allowed one run on five hits, lasting six innings on 100 pitches in a no-decision. He has allowed only two runs in his last 14 1/3 innings.
"I thought he obviously kept us in the game, gave up one run, got us out of a jam in the sixth, just a really nice job by [Gonzalez]," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. " … It kind of started unraveling a bit. They're a good hitting club, and they got some pitches to handle." 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Not so Grandal: Gonzalez held the Dodgers scoreless until Forsythe's bases-loaded sac fly with one out in the sixth inning tied the game at 1. But a baserunning blunder kept the Dodgers from extending the rally, as was caught off the bag at second on the play, ending the inning.

Justin time: Following a leadoff double from and a  groundout that moved Garcia to third, Wood faced some trouble with the game tied 1-1. However, Wood's defense was there to back him up. hit a sharp liner that could have sneaked past at third, but the All-Star third baseman made a nice grab and recorded the second out. Wood struck out pinch-hitter to end the inning.
"Corey let me know a slider was coming right there," Turner said. "So I had a chance to cheat a little bit toward the line, and sure enough he hooked a hard ground ball down the line and I was able to beat it there."
Wood stellar, but 15th win will have to wait

QUOTABLE
"When you look at it and you look at the win-loss, it's remarkable. We're going to celebrate tonight like we do every time we win, but we will refocus and it's going to be fun having Yu [Darvish] on the mound making his home debut. But, yeah, 50 games over .500 is kind of uncharted territory." -- Roberts, on being 50 games over .500

"There was just a lot going on out there when I was on the mound. I was thinking about my family and my friends out there, supporting me every pitch. It's definitely a game I will never forget. -- Gonzalez, a Los Angeles native, on making his first career start at Dodger Stadium in front of friends and family
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
This is the fourth Dodgers team to reach 50 games over .500. The last time was the 1953 squad, which accomplished the feat on Sept. 27 that season.
WHAT'S NEXT
White Sox: Left-hander will get the start for the White Sox in the series finale at 5:10 p.m. CT. Rodon worked a season-high eight innings while striking out four on Thursday against the Astros. .
Dodgers: makes his home debut for the Dodgers in Wednesday's 7:10 p.m. PT series finale. The right-hander recorded 10 strikeouts in his first two starts since coming over from Texas at the Trade Deadline. He has a 5.12 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox.
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.