Hold on, Manny. You're not going anywhere yet.
On a day where Manny Ramirez was claimed by the White Sox (then sat out this game), the Dodgers entered Colorado needing to make a statement to keep their playoff hopes alive. They did in the first game, as Casey Blake's grand slam in the eighth led to a win, 6-2.
The game featured a great pitching matchup between Clayton Kershaw and Ubaldo Jimenez. Back on May 9 in Dodger Stadium, Kershaw got the slight edge in a 2-0 game that gave Jimenez his first loss after six wins. Not much has changed since then, as both are still among the best hurlers in the National League.
To start the game, the Dodgers had a chance to score but couldn't come through. Scott Podsednik led off and singled, but was soon erased on Ryan Theriot's double play. Andre Ethier hit a bloop double to left and went to third on a wild pitch. Matt Kemp struck out for the last out.
Kershaw got the first five hitters in order, but then Todd Helton hit a solo shot to left to put the Rockies up 1-0. It's not surprising to see Helton jack one out, but it was against Kershaw, who had plenty of success getting Helton out in the past.
Not much was happening for the Dodgers for much of the game against Jimenez. Ethier lined into a double play to end the third, Barajas struck out with two on to end the fourth, and Jay Gibbons pinch-hit and grounded into an inning ending DP in the seventh. There were opportunities, but nothing was cashed in.
The eighth was when it all came together. Despite being over 100 pitches at the time, Jim Tracy stayed with Jimenez. It turned out to be a bad decision. Podsednik singled again and easily stole second. Theriot was trying to lay down the sacrifice bunt, but instead walked on some pitches that weren't even close.
Ethier was up in another big spot for the Dodgers, but this time he gave the team a big lift with an RBI double to tie it at 1-1. Just like that, Jimenez went from possible winner to possible loser.
Matt Belisle came on, and he hadn't given up an earned run the entire month of August. Would the Dodgers take the lead anyway? They sure did. It didn't happen right away, though, as Kemp grounded out to short, failing to get either run home. James Loney was intentionally walked to load the bases for Blake.
It was a battle between pitcher and hitter, as Blake fouled off some close pitches. With a full count, Belisle grooved one right down Broadway that Blake deposited into left for a grand slam and 5-1 lead. The old man can still get it done.
Jonathan Broxton came on an inning before and got the Rockies in order. He stayed on in the bottom of the eighth and gave up a double to Carlos Gonzalez with one down. Troy Tulowitzki popped up for two outs, but Melvin Mora's RBI single cut it to 5-2.
Joe Torre brought in Hong-Chih Kuo to face Helton and get the four-out save. It worked, as Helton struck out on a fastball looking.
Kemp added an RBI single in the ninth to make it 6-2. Kuo stayed on and got the side in order, ending with a strikeout of Chris Iannetta to end the game. Since Kuo entered with a three-run lead, he still got the save in case you didn't know.
Before the game started, I was initially surprised that Manny wasn't playing. But when you consider that he may be traded, it makes since to protect him from injury. He's already been on the DL three times this year, so a potential deal would disappear if he gets hurt again.
At the start of this week, the Dodgers didn't look much like a playoff team. A lot had to right for them to get back into the race. Well, a lot has gone right so far. They swept the Brewers and got a big win in Coors Field. They still have plenty of work to do, but with five wins in six games, they're on the right track.
Even though Broxton gave up a run, he still did a good job in keeping the Dodgers comfortably ahead. Kuo deserves plenty of credit for getting the final four outs in order. Using both of these men in this order is exactly what needs to keep happening.
The Dodgers will go for five straight by sending Chad Billingsley to the mound on Saturday. He was pushed back to this start because of a right calf issue, so hopefully he's over that. It's a little scary since he had leg issues last season that really caused him to tank in the second half.
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