Andre Ethier set a record yesterday. Today he added more heroics.
Ethier led off the 10th inning and cranked a homer off of the previously untouchable Brian Sanches, and Vicente Padilla slammed the door shut as the Dodgers took down the Marlins in 10, 5-4. The win avoids a sweep and gives the Dodgers and even 3-3 record on their road trip.
The Marlins had every reason to think they would get this one, as the game started at 9 A.M. Pacific time. Plus the fact that they went up 4-0 and had a guy who threw a one-hitter on the mound, things were looking up.
Chad Billingsley got through the top of the order with ease in the first, but ran into plenty of trouble in the second. With one out, Mike Stanton singled. Next came two straight singles to load the bases by Greg Dobbs and Emilio Bonafacio. Brett Haynes got one in with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Billingsley got Anibal Sanchez swinging, but couldn't escape the inning when Chris Coghlan, that damn little Dodger killer, stroked a three-run double to make it 4-0.
The Dodgers needed someone to step up if they wanted any chance to win, and it happened in the fourth. Ethier extended his hitting streak to 24 straight games with a single with one out. Matt Kemp struck out, but James Loney singled to set it up for Rod Barajas. Barajas was resigned for his power, and it showed with a huge three-run homer, and it was now 4-3.
Still needing another boost to at least tie the game, Juan Uribe came through despite still not being in the starting lineup with a sore thigh. Aaron Miles started the seventh with a single, and he went to second on Ivan DeJesus's sacrifice bunt. Miles was then handed third base via a a balk. Uribe pinch-hit for Billingsley and delivered a big RBI double to tie the game at 4.
From there, both teams had plenty of chances to end the game in regulation, but couldn't get that one more big hit. For the Dodgers, it came in the eighth. Kemp, Loney, and Miles all walked to load the bases with one down. Edward Mujica came into pitch to DeJesus, and it worked with a double play ball to end the threat.
Matt Guerrier found himself in a bad situation in the ninth. He immediately gave up to singles to Dobbs and Bonafacio, with the latter reaching on a bunt. Hayes sacrificed them both over to scoring position, and it wasn't looking good. But Guerrier stepped up by striking out Scott Cousins and getting John Buck grounding out.
The good vibes carried right over into the 10th, as the Dodgers took the lead for good on Ethier's third longball of the season. His 2-for-5 day puts his average at .380, which is slightly above Kemp's .378. Two All-Star starters? It's got to happen if this keeps up.
As if Ethier's day wasn't good enough, perhaps an even greater sight came in the bottom of the 10th. Needing to protect the one-run lead, Padilla was given the ball, not Jonathan Broxton. It worked, as Padilla set the Marlins down in order for his third career save, and first of the season.
The official reason given by the Dodgers was that Broxton had a sore elbow, so he was unavailable. Not that I'm doubting people when they say they're hurt, but I have to think Padilla would have been given a chance regardless. I think it only makes since considering Broxton is still on shaky ground.
The Dodgers deserve all sorts of credit for getting a win in this one. They could've easily rolled over and played dead after being down by four, but they didn't let that happen. Games like this give me plenty of hope that they can hang around and contend.
Of course, the flip side is that they could just as easily have won two of three if not for Monday's letdown. Then again, maybe both teams can claim they're even now after blowing leads they had every chance to hold onto.
Thursday will be a day off as the Dodgers travel back home. Friday they will welcome the Padres for three. Ted Lilly only has one good start out of five, so he will look to get going.
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