Facing another hot opponent in the NL West, the Dodgers once again responded with a statement win.
Rafael Furcal's RBI single in the sixth put the Dodgers ahead for good, as they went on to defeat the Rockies, 3-2. The lead in the West is extended to four games over the Rockies and seven over the Giants.
Much like a couple weeks ago in San Francisco, the Dodgers hit the road for a three-game series against another team looking to take over the top. Just like then, the Dodgers got the wins they needed, showcasing why they've been in first for practically the entire season.
For the third straight game, the Dodgers jumped on the board in their first at-bats. Raffy went from an 0-2 count against Jorge De La Rosa to working a walk. Matt Kemp stepped up and blasted one out to left for the 2-0 lead. Kemp continues his monster season with a 3-for-5 night with a double as well.
In the third, the Rockies used some two-out hits to even the game against Vicente Padilla, making his first start with the Dodgers. Carlos Gonzalez singled with two outs, and Seth Smith tripled him in down the right field line. After a walk to Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki singled just between Raffy and Manny Ramirez in left to knot it at two.
Furcal has been in a slump lately, but he came through in a big way in the sixth. It started with a single by Orlando Hudson, who then went to second on Brad Ausmus' sacrifice bunt. Mark Loretta pinch-hit and lined out, but Raffy singled back up the middle for the 3-2 lead.
On Tuesday night, Joe Torre would rely on his bullpen to try to keep the game tied at two late, and yesterday afternoon, he looked to the 'pen to keep the lead. This time, they delivered.
Hong-Chih Kuo pitched the sixth and struck out the side in between Tulowitzki (I won't miss him) hitting a single. Ramon Troncoso started the seventh and gave up a single to start, then retired two. George Sherrill struck out Smith with a runner on second to end the threat.
Sherrill then started the eighth and got the first two before Brad Hawpe singled to left. Jonathan Broxton came on and got Garrett Atkins to fly out to right.
Broxton actually had something rare happen to him in the ninth... he got an at-bat. With two on and two out, he shockingly struck out. He's now 0-for-5 in his career, but somehow has drawn two walks. I smell career-changer.
Yorvit Torrealba singled with one down in the bottom of the ninth. On a chopper to Raffy by Ryan Spilborghs, Torrealba barely avoided the tag to put two on. From there, Broxton struck out the next two to end the game and get his 28th save.
Padilla was brought in to battle for the last spot in the rotation, and he made his case to stay there. He went five innings, six hits, two runs, one walk, and four strikeouts. Like Charlie Haeger, it's nice to see pitchers actually doing something positive to get that spot, rather than everyone stinking up the joint. We'll see Padilla get another start next week.
After dropping a tough one on Tuesday, give the Dodgers a bunch of credit for fighting back and taking the next two. Admittedly, the Rockies had their bottom three in the rotation run out there, which was much easier than facing Jason Marquis and Ubaldo Jimenez. But I don't feel bad about it, do you?
As the Rockies and Giants battle it out for three in San Francisco, the Dodgers travel to play the lowly Reds. But, the Reds have actually won four straight, including a three-game sweep in Milwaukee, so that's not bad. Chad Billingsley gets the call in the first game.
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