The Dodgers slugged their way past Scott Kazmir and the bullpen in finally beating the Angels after five losses, 10-6. The game featured an odd delay in which some of the lights went out. Thankfully it didn't matter.
Facing the embarrassment of getting swept for the season by the Angels, the bats came alive in a big fourth after being down 1-0 on Bobby Abreu's RBI single in the first.
Matt Kemp started the rally with a single. James Loney was then beaned. Casey Blake flew out to deep center on a nice catch by Torii Hunter, which allowed Kemp to tag to third. Russell Martin walked to load the bases, and Reed Johnson's infield single tied the game at 1-1.
Rafael Furcal has been through a roller coaster of emotions lately, so he really needed something positive to happen. It did, as he laced a two-run double to go up 3-1. Jamey Carroll followed with an RBI single and Andre Ethier an RBI fielder's choice to make it 5-1.
Of course, the inning wouldn't be complete without another boneheaded baserunning blunder. When Ethier grounded back to the mound, the throw to second to get Carroll was late. For reasons only known to him, Carroll then walked off the base thinking he was out, and was tagged trying to get back.
Mike Napoli launched a solo shot to cut the lead to 5-2. Loney reached on an error in the fifth, went to third on Blake's single, and scored on Martin's sac-fly RBI.
The Angels made a run in the bottom of the fifth to make it interesting again. It all came with two outs, as Charlie Haeger gave up a single and walk. Ramon Troncoso came on, and he surrendered RBI singles to Hunter and Hideki Matsui to make it 6-4. Napoli grounded into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
In the seventh, Ethier doubled to lead off. Manny Ramirez came through with an RBI single for a 7-4 lead. Loney eventually walked, and Blake's RBI single increased the score to 8-4.
Manny again hit an RBI single in the eighth to score Carroll. Their final run was scored on Loney's RBI single.
Justin Miller got through the eighth and was kept on to finish the game. That didn't go so well, as Kevin Frandsen's RBI double kept hope alive. George Sherrill came in, and you didn't think he'd actually get a big out, did you? Of course not! Abreu singled home a run to make it 10-6.
Jonathan Broxton was brought in, and he got some help when Martin gunned down Abreu trying to go to third on a pitch in the dirt. Hunter and Matsui struck out swinging to put this game in the books.
Haeger didn't exactly have a great start, as he lasted 4 2/3 innings for five hits, four runs, four walks, and five strikeouts. He had a great chance to get a win, but crumbled in the fifth after getting two outs. His ERA stands at a whopping 8.40.
The real star of the night was Martin, who looked great in nailing three runners trying to steal, in addition to Abreu in the ninth. Plus, he had a sac-fly RBI, took a couple walks, and scored a run. It was an all-around good effort for him.
Other than Martin, every batter had at least a hit. Blake and Carroll had three each, and Furcal, Manny, and Kemp had two each. I've talked before about the need for production throughout the lineup, and that was certainly the case on Thursday. I'd say 15 hits and four walks counts as a big night at the plate.
One day after suffering through about the worst baserunning I've ever seen in my life, it's good the Dodgers didn't have a hangover. They swung the bats like they were determined to win. Granted, the Angels clearly got the better of them this year. The Dodgers desperately needed this one, and they got it.
Next up should be a fun three-game set in Dodger Stadium as the Yankees come to town. I'm surprised the schedule makers didn't plan this one for New York with Joe Torre making his return. But either way, it'll be great to watch.
The rotation sets up well for the Dodgers, as it'll be Vicente Padilla tonight, followed by Hiroki Kuroda and Clayton Kershaw this weekend. The Yankees can say the same with C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Andy Pettitte.
No comments:
Post a Comment