To quote the movie "Swingers," Hiroki Kuroda was "money, baby, MONEY!!!" last night.
Making his first start since coming off the DL, he was fantastic in shutting out the Houston Astros for 7 innings and helping the Dodgers win, 4-1. He gave up only 5 hits, 1 walk, and 1 strikeout. A brilliant start in a tough ballpark to post good numbers.
Andre Ethier and Jeff Kent got the party started in the 1st. Ethier doubled with 1 down, and Kent hit a 2-out double to score him and take the early lead. Kent again got the Dodgers on the board in the 3rd, when Matt Kemp led off with a triple, but was stranded there for 2 outs. Kent came through with his 2nd double, and a 2-0 lead.
The bottom of the order got in on the act in the 4th, as Blake DeWitt singled, stole 2nd, and went to 3rd on a throwing error, all with no outs. After Delwyn Young grounded out, Joe Torre pressed the right buttons by having Luis Maza hit a suicide squeeze that worked out perfectly.
The scoring ended in the 5th when Ethier hit a solo home run, his 8th of the year. He's scored a run in each game this series, and for the Dodgers, that's a very big deal. Scoring runs is hard to come by, you know.
But the real story was Kuroda, who proved how good he can be if healthy. I was at the start in New York when the Mets just pounded him, and I can now assume that he was hurt and trying to gut it out. It looks like the rest did him a whole world of good. With Brad Penny due back, their rotation looks like it's starting to settle in.
Cory Wade pitched a scoreless 8th and ended the game, only allowing a solo shot to Carlos Lee for the Astros only run of the night. He was a guy that kind of quietly came on, and he sure has been reliable. I mentioned the Mets/Dodgers game I saw last month, and Wade looked really good there. In 33 IP, he has a mere 5 walks and 21 K's. He's been a rock.
The Dodgers have now won 5 of their last 6 road games (thanks, Cincinnati) and have scored 11 runs the last 2 games. Unbelievable! They'll look to take the series today when Chad Billingsley takes the mound in an early start. They'll then hit the road to San Francisco.
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