Once upon a time, the Dodgers were making a mockery of the NL West.
Today, with only a two game lead, it's hard to believe just how quickly things have turned.
As mediocre as the Dodgers have played since the All-Star break, the Rockies have absolutely been on fire. And that streak continued as the Rockies got a walk-off RBI single from Troy Tulowitzki in the 10th as they won, 5-4.
The game started off well for the Dodgers, who struck in the first. Matt Kemp singled to center and then stole second. Andre Ethier plated him with an RBI single, and it was 1-0.
A few innings later in the fourth, Casey Blake lead off with a solo homer, making it 2-0. With Clayton Kershaw cruising on the mound, it sure looked like the Dodgers were in a great position to make a statement in Coors.
Instead, the Rockies came right back, as they've made a habit of doing to everyone. Troy Helton hit a double with one down. After Tulowitzki popped up, Brad Hawpe cranked a two-run homer, and the game was back to even.
The bullpen of L.A. is usually a strong point, but not last night. Ronald Belisario came on with one out in the seventh and got Garrett Atkins to ground out. Clint Barmes followed that with a solo homer, and the Rockies took the 3-2 lead.
Enter Hong-Chih Kuo in the eighth, and he got the first two batters right away. But, Ryan Spilborghs singled and Helton walked. Tulowitzki hit a long double to left that scored one, but Helton was gunned out at home. The damage was done, though, as the Rockies went up 4-2.
The Dodgers did not quit on this one in the ninth, thanks in large part to Huston Street getting the night off. Juan Pierre pinch-hit and delivered with a single. Rafael Furcal doubled, and Kemp hit a sac-fly RBI to go down by one.
Old friend Joe Beimel came on and got Ethier swinging for two down. Matt Daley came on to face Manny Ramirez. Manny had two strikes on him, but then got a big RBI single to tie it at four. James Loney reached on an error and Blake was given the intentional walk to go after Russell Martin.
Martin had a chance to be a hero, but flew out. That was a sign of things to come, as the Rockies showed how tough they are in extra innings.
James McDonald was called upon to pitch the 10th, and pretty much did nothing right. To make a long story short, Tulowitzki was again a hero by singling to center to score Ian Stewart to end the night.
If the Dodgers want to at all make a statement, they have to get the next couple of games. The Dodgers have a clear advantage with starting pitchers, as they send Randy Wolf and Vicente Padilla to the mound. The Rockies counter with Josh Fogg and Jorge De La Rosa. So yes, that's a check for the Dodgers.
But, the Rockies seem like they can run anybody out to the mound and still win. Kind of like how the Dodgers were in the beginning of the year. It's funny how that works out. Now the Dodgers have to be the ones to get their bats going and start to play winning ball again.
Wolf is exactly the guy the Dodgers want on the mound, as he's been a stud for them. If the Dodgers still can't win, the NL West lead will be down to one, as unlikely as that seemed just a couple months ago. But, we will see.
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