Saturday, April 24, 2010

Martin's single gives Dodgers the win in 13

Russell Martin's error led to the tying run in the eighth, but his RBI single in the 13th lifted the Dodgers over the Nationals, 4-3. Basically, it was the typical formula of the hitting outperforming the defense and bullpen to get the win.

It was a bit of a wild game with pretty good starting pitching, plenty of hits, and lots of baserunning blunders. Fortunately for the Dodgers, the Nationals seemed determined to screw up on the bases and give away outs.

Ian Desmond's one-out triple in the first was the game's first hit. He scored a batter later on an RBI groundout from Christian Guzman.

Casey Blake was involved in a lot of big plays today, and it all started for him in the second. James Loney singled with one down. Blake then hit a two-run homer, his second of the season, making it 2-1.

One of the big mistakes on the bases from the Nationals cost them in the sixth. The starting pitcher, Craig Stammen, hit an RBI single to tie the game at two. Nyjer Morgan then hit one over Xavier Paul's head in left, but got gunned out trying to get a triple out of it. Stammen didn't cross home plate in time, so it remained tied.

Blake continued his hot day at the plate with a solo shot in the seventh, his second of the day, making it 3-2. Once again, he's quietly putting together a good year with a .316 average, and great defense at third.

The game was then turned over to the bullpen, and you can probably guess that it would be an adventure one way or another. And it was. Hong-Chih Kuo and Ronald Belisario combined to hold the Nats scoreless in the seventh, but it wasn't easy. Rafael Furcal had an error, but the Nationals ran into an out when Desmond was tagged out at home.

Ramon Troncoso came in next inning, and gave up a single to Alberto Gonzalez with one out. Adam Kennedy forced him out with a fielder's choice for two down. Enter Jonathan Broxton, still only with one save. Well, Martin didn't make it easy, as his bad throw to second on Kennedy's steal allowed him to go to third.

Wouldn't you know it, the bad defense cost the Dodgers. Morgan singled to left, and Broxton suffered a blown save in knotting the game at three.

Matt Capps already has seven saves, and he was called upon to keep the game even. Singles by Loney and Blake put men in scoring position with two down, but Paul flew out to deep center to end it.

Fast forward to the 13th, and the Dodgers came through. With two outs, Raffy singled and stole second. That would be key, as Martin lined a single just ahead of Morgan in center to score the winning run.

Carlos Monasterios survived a very shaky bottom of the 13th for the win. Pudge Rodriguez singled and Morgan doubled with one down. Desmond then bounced one to Blake, and the throw home just barely got Pudge on a nice block and tag by Martin. Guzman flied out to Paul to end the game.

Yes, the Dodgers made it hard on themselves, but it doesn't matter. They just need wins while their bullpen settles in. Clayton Kershaw wasn't too sharp, going six innings for eight hits, two runs, three walks, and six strikeouts. But, the bottom line was only giving up two runs in six innings, which he'll take.

Give credit to both George Sherrill (yes, I did just say that) and Monasterios for their work in extra innings. Sherrill was perfect in 1 1/3 innings, and Monasterios went 2 2/3 scoreless for his first career win.

Sunday is a big start for Chad Billingsley. The Dodgers have all but lost patience with him, and he needs a good start to reassure everyone that he'll be OK. He currently has ERA of 7.07. It could be worse, though. The guy he's going against is Scott Olsen, and his is 11.74.

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