A horrific fourth inning in which the Dodgers gave up six runs was more than enough for the White Sox to take the Saturday afternoon game, 9-2. Both teams have split the first couple of games.
Jon Garland was back on the mound at a place that gave him plenty of success in the past. He was an 18-game winner in both 2005 and 2006 and won a ring in '05. So it goes without saying that he had this start circled ready to show he still has it.
Too bad that didn't actually happen today, as the Sox used some bloop hits and the longball to make life miserable for him. All in all, he lasted only 3 2/3 innings for 11 hits, seven runs, one walk, and two strikeouts. His ERA shot up from 3.55 to 4.75 just like that.
It all started in the first. After the Dodgers wasted a couple of baserunners, the Sox cashed them in when given the chance. Alexei Ramirez doubled with one out. Following an Adam Dunn strikeout, one of four on the day, Paul Konerko's RBI single made it 1-0.
Believe it or not, the Dodgers actually were in this game at one point, and tied it in the third. Jamey Carroll beat out an infield hit leading off. Juan Castro laid down the sacrifice bunt, but nobody covered first and was safe. Matt Kemp tied the game at 1 with an RBI groundout.
That was as good as it would get for the Dodgers in this one, as the fourth inning saw the Sox send 11 men to the plate for six runs on seven hits. It all started on a single by Konerko. He was actually then gunned at third by Jerry Sands on A.J. Pierzynski's single for one down.
It got ugly from there, as Alex Rios rocketed a two-run tater, and it was 3-1. Omar Vizquel singled, Brent Lillibridge was beaned, and Gordon Beckham singled to load 'em up. Ramirez plated two of them with a single, and Dunn walked to load the bases again. Ramon Troncoso came in and immediately watched Konerko score two more with a single. In the end, it was 7-1.
The Dodgers didn't have a whole lot happen after that. The only good thing was watching Sands hit his first career big league homer in the sixth. Of course nobody was on base, but still, it was good to see. He hasn't been the power threat the Dodgers were hoping, but now that he has the first one out of the way, maybe more are soon to follow.
The final runs of the day came on a two-run homer by Lillibridge off of Lance Cormier. But you're as shocked as I am that Cormier gave up a homer. Nope, I didn't think so either.
As funny as this may seem, I didn't think Garland was really all that bad. He fell victim to some bad luck with a couple of bloop hits, and some grounders that found holes. That's the way it goes sometimes. His pitching line is hard to look at, but I'm not worried about him.
The same can't be said for Cormier, who looks just completely lost out there. After giving up two runs in two innings, he now has a 9.88 ERA in 13 2/3 innings this year. I can't imagine he'll be around much longer once some of the DL guys start coming back. At least I hope not.
Maybe the best news from this game, other than the homer by Sands, is that Rafael Furcal may be activated and play in Sunday's finale. If not, then it will be very soon. Plus, Casey Blake could begin a rehab assignment soon. Like I said recently, they're not huge power hitters, but they can only help a lifeless offense when they do return.
For every piece of good news, there's also the negative. This time it's Juan Uribe possibly getting DL'd with a left hip flexor. He's only hitting .220, but had started to turn things around again recently. Wouldn't you know it, now he's hurt. So it goes for the Dodgers.
The last game of this three-game series will come on Sunday afternoon. Hiroki Kuroda has been masterful in his last two starts, and he will be looking for his sixth win.
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