Ted Lilly started poorly, was given a reprieve, and then failed to keep the Dodgers in the game as they fell to the Twins, 6-4. One night after torching the Twins for 15 runs and 25 hits, the offense failed to do anything against the Twins' bullpen for the final four innings.
Knowing that the Twins had something to prove after getting absolutely obliterated and embarrassed the night before, it was important for Lilly to keep his club in the game. That didn't exactly happen, as the Twins struck right away. Ben Revere singled leading off, and Alexi Casilla laid down a great bunt for two on. Revere then stole third and scored on Joe Mauer's RBI single.
After the Dodgers went down in order again, the Twins got more runs in the second. Old friend Jason Repko singled to start. Following a flyout, he stole second, and took third on a groundout. Revere came through again with an RBI single and 2-0 lead. Revere stole second for his second swipe of the game, and scored on Casilla's RBI double to go up 3-0.
The Dodgers eventually got on the board in the fourth. Tony Gwynn, who's been great in the leadoff spot the last few games, walked leading off and took second on a passed ball. Casey Blake worked a walk, and Andre Ethier forced Blake at second on a grounder, putting Gwynn at third. Matt Kemp lifted a sac-fly RBI to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Twins got that run right back in the bottom of the frame. Repko was beaned leading off, and Lilly again allowed a stolen base. Ron Rivera's RBI single made it 4-1, and it once again showed Lilly's lack of ability to hold runners on. In all, the Twins stole four bases.
Down by three, the Dodgers' offense woke up to tie the game in the fifth. With one down, they got an unlikely solo homer from Aaron Miles to make it 4-2. Not only was that his first homer of the year, but first one since 2008! A.J. Ellis then singled, Jamey Carroll walked, and Blake walked an out later. With two down, Ethier came though with a two-run single to start the game fresh.
Lilly hadn't exactly pitched that well up to this point, but still only in the fifth inning, Don Mattingly kept him in. It worked through the first two batters for a couple outs, but Danny Valencia singled to keep the inning alive. Luke Hughes, who's had all of two homers in 48 career games up to this point, made Lilly pay with a two-run shot to grab the lead back at 6-4.
Juan Uribe led off the sixth by getting beaned, and the Twins turned the game over to their beleaguered bullpen. Alex Burnett got Marcus Thames to ground into a double play right away, not that I'm surprised about that. Thames is terrible and should be released. He's hitting .197 with two homers and seven RBIs. Pathetic.
The Dodgers had a scoring opportunity in the seventh, but ran into the final out. Carroll singled with one down, which brought Glen Perkins into the game. Carroll went to second on Gwynn's groundout. With two down, Blake singled, and Carroll tried to score but was gunned down at the plate.
Matt Capps came on for the save, and he gave up walks to Trent Oeltjen and Gwynn. Blake grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game and give Capps his 12th save of the season.
The Dodgers did a good job in fighting back, but Lilly didn't do his part. He lasted only 4 2/3 innings for nine hits, six runs, no walks, and no strikeouts. It's not often you see a starting pitcher not record at least one strikeout. As I've said in the past, I don't get the sense at all that hitters are scared to face him. I know he's a control guy and won't throw hard, but he looks like he's pitching batting practice half the time. A 4.97 ERA and 5-8 record reflects that.
Lilly really needs to step up at some point. He made a few good starts at the end of May and into June, but he's gotten crushed his last three starts for three straight L's. With Jon Garland out and Rubby De La Rosa going through the ups and downs of a rookie, the Dodgers sure look like a three deep rotation now. Even Hiroki Kuroda can't get a win, but that's more the fault of the offense.
Wednesday afternoon's game will be the rubber match, as the Dodgers will look to take their second straight Interleague series. De La Rosa will get the call against Scott Baker.
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