Tony Gwynn just picked up his first career save.
Clinging to an 11-7 lead in the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers' pitiful bullpen was bailed out on a diving catch by Gwynn with the bases loaded to get the win over the Rockies. With the win, the Dodgers have snapped a three-game losing streak.
It was your latest wild affair between these two teams, who have both battled back from huge deficits through the first three games. It's not a surprise considering their history of crazy games in Coors Field.
There wasn't much scoring during the opening four innings, which is surprising considering there were 18 total runs in this game. In the second, Ty Wiggington led off with a solo homer off of Ted Lilly to grab the 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers wasted a bases loaded opportunity in the third when James Loney popped up. Rod Barajas and Aaron Miles each singled to open the fourth, but they were stranded. At this point, it sure looked like another one of those games in which the Dodgers wouldn't get a clutch hit.
Luckily for the Dodgers, that all changed starting in the fifth. With one out and Andre Ethier on first, Matt Kemp came through yet again with an RBI double to knot the game at 1. Where would the Dodgers be without Kemp this year? That's a scary thought.
Lilly worked around a bases loaded, one-out jam to escape the fifth, setting things up for the Dodgers to take the lead in the sixth. Barajas and Miles both reached again to start. Gwynn laid down a great bunt to load the bases. Don Mattingly called on Casey Blake to hit for Lilly, and it worked to perfection as Blake laced a three-run double for the 4-1 lead.
More runs were added in the seventh. Kemp reached on an error by Wiggington, and Loney singled for two on. Miles had a huge night against his former mates with four hits, and one of them was a two-run double to make it 6-1. Marcus Thames pinch-hit with two outs and got an RBI single to go up 7-1.
At this point, it sure looked like a blowout was in the Dodgers' hands. But much like the night before when the Rockies nearly blew a six-run lead, the Dodgers' horrible bullpen almost did the same.
You can't blame Josh Lindblom, who pitched a perfect seventh. Then the ball was given to Scott Elbert the next inning, and boy did he completely stink the joint up. A double by Carlos Gonzalez, single by Eric Young, and walk to Jason Giambi later, Elbert was out of there. Matt Guerrier came on and immediately gave up a two-run single to Troy Tulowitzki, and it was 7-3.
With Guerrier still on, Giambi and Tulo scored on an error by Kemp. An RBI single by Charlie Blackmon made it a whole new ballgame at 7-6.
Needing to respond, the Dodgers did just that against Matt Lindstrom in the ninth. Loney singled leading off an scored on an RBI single by Barajas. Gwynn got an RBI on a fielder's choice to make it 9-6. The big blow of the inning was a two-out, two-run single by Carroll to make it 11-6.
The Rockies wouldn't go quietly, as Javy Guerra had all he could handle in trying to end this one. With two outs, Young, Giambi, and Tulo singled, and Wiggington scored one on a single. After Ryan Spilborghs walked to load the bases, Gwynn made an absolutely fantastic diving catch to end the game.
Both teams deserve credit for not quitting in this one. The Rockies were down by six late and found a way to come back, and the Dodgers added some insurance runs in the ninth that were desperately needed. There were a combined 31 hits in this one.
Lilly ended up getting the win, as he went five innings for four hits, one run, two walks, and three strikeouts. He now has his ERA under four at 3.98. That's five straight great starts from him.
The bullpen was terrible again, specifically Elbert. There's not much Mattingly can do about it, however, as he is without the services of Hong-Chih Kuo, Vicente Padilla, and Jonathan Broxton (not that he makes much of a difference). That's why you see guys like Guerra and Elbert pitching big innings when they normally never would. But that's the way it has to be right now.
If the Dodgers can earn a Sunday win, then they will finish their road trip at 5-5. Considering they played the Reds, Phillies, and Rockies, they would have to be happy with that. In fact, they should be downright giddy. With all of the injuries they've been through, I'm not sure anyone expected them to even win half of these games.
Sunday's game, however, won't be easy. Rubby De La Rosa gets his second career start against Ubaldo Jimenez, who just handcuffed the Dodgers in his last start.
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