Saturday, April 21, 2007

Game 18 Thread: April 21 vs Pirates, 7.10p

Dodgers start Brad Penny, RHP (3-0, 0.89) vs. Ian Snell, RHP (1-1, 1.80).

Dodgers: 12-5 (1st place NL West, best record in the major leagues, 2.0 GA, W2)
Pirates: 6-9 (5th place NL Central, 3.0 GB, L3)

From Dodgers.com, the scouting report on the starters:

Dodgers: Penny, off to another fast start after a rocky Spring Training, pitches Saturday against the Pirates and former manager Jim Tracy. Penny went 10-2 in the first half last year to earn the start in the All-Star Game. He is 3-2 lifetime against the Pirates.

Pirates: After two solid starts, Snell was finally able to pick up a win in his third start of the season. He was dominant in his last start against the Cardinals, throwing seven innings and allowing just one run on three hits and striking out six. In four career games against the Dodgers, Snell is 1-1 with a 7.50 ERA.

COMMENTS

  • Snell is a decent young pitcher (14-11 last year, 4.74 ERA with 169 Ks) and could be formidable tonight give his performance this season, allowing 2, 1, and 1 ER in his first three appearances (6, 7, and 7 IP respectively). Penny is also pitching up a storm in 2007, allowing only two earned runs in his 20 1/3 innings pitched this year. Penny's 0.89 ERA is the third-lowest among major-league qualifiers. All I know is, it's going to be a cold 56-degree game tonight, so I'm watching this one on television.
  • The Pirates are staying at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. (310) 277-2000 is the main phone number. Tell Jim Tracy the Sons of Steve Garvey say hi. (And guess which Dodgers blog just got a 2007 Dodgers Media Guide! Good times.)

UPDATE

From Inside the Dodgers:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Garciaparra, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzalez, LF
Martin, C
Ethier, RF
Betemit, 3B
Penny, P

61 comments:

Alex Cora said...

Nice hit by Knet, yes RIch you CAN send Nomar on that play, nice decision making.

Alex Cora said...

Strong double play. This ump looks to be squeezing the strike zone on Penny, lets see if he is consistent.

Steve Sax said...

Just checking in, we're down 3-1 but we've got an error. Is our deficit due to Penny, or other factors?

Steve Sax said...

Penny comes up to bat in the 5th and strokes one to left on the first pitch. Good call to leave him in, Grady!

Steve Sax said...

Penny pitched an economical sixth but couldn't get the first batter out in the seventh. On to the bullpen (Tsao).

Just flashed a graphic stating the Dodgers' bullpen is third lowest in the NL (Mets #1, Padres #2).

This guy's foul balls are teeing off on Tsao. Let's hope he can take him...and he hits into a double play! Nice job.

Damon said...

Is anyone else sick of Gonzo's bad arm

Steve Sax said...

Ian Snell pitched a hell of a game for seven innings. Now that he's out, let's see if Nomar/Kent/Gonzo can do anything with it in the 8th (assuming Beimel gets through the 8th unscathed)...

Steve Sax said...

And Damon chips in with another post. Dude, you are on almost every game, pretty impressive.

Martin, you gotta swing at those, dude. Three more outs for the boys in blue.

Orel said...

Why are we losing? Can't I leave you guys for just one game?

Orel said...

At least Saito is money.

Steve Sax said...

Ethier, Betemit, Pitcher's spot in the bottom of the ninth, down by a run. I am not hopeful.

Damon said...

I live in Oregon but I was born and raised in LaCrescenta CA.

Damon said...

I predict Betemit HR

Damon said...

So much for that

Steve Sax said...

Orel, good to see you. You planning on joining the Game Thread tomorrow night?

Damon, thanks for being a loyal contributor to Game Threads. You an mlb.tv or extra innings guy?

Orel said...

Hey, it's old friend Salomon Torres.

Orel said...

That bunt sucked.

Orel said...

Day game tomorrow, got tickets. My first game.

Steve Sax said...

Ethier should have taken off! Okay, Wilson (Valdez, that is).., 1-2 count...ugh, a crappy bunt.

Torres looked flustered after the Ethier walk, but that was bad.

Crowd is going nuts, but wait until they see Saenz's crappy average...

Orel said...

Air mail!

Steve Sax said...

Love Valdez. Was just checking his SB stats (4 SB. 4 CS lifetime, but 1 SB and 1 CS this year), and off he goes...

Tying run at third.

Steve Sax said...

Is it just me or did y'all see the "ghost of 42" in the grass along the third base line? Pretty cool...

Orel said...

wow

Steve Sax said...

VALDEZ ROCKS THE HOUSSSSSE!

Orel said...

And the Pirates got the bounce too.

Steve Sax said...

Yikes, good thing Valdez scored on the passed ball. K for Olmedo the Tomato.

Steve Sax said...

What the hell was that first strike by Furcal?

Steve Sax said...

Did Rafael Furcal get batting tips from Juan Pierre? I know he'll heat up eventually, but this is painful.

Damon said...

mlb.tv it's a better deal

Steve Sax said...

Orel, I just re-read your earlier post on Salomon Torres. Dusty should blame the Spanish food; that's always a killer on the stomach.

Steve Sax said...

Damon, you'll have to tell us when you're coming to a home game this year. One of the Sons will try and meet you. We owe you a beer.

Orel said...

Sweet play by Nomar. Although I bet James Loney could have made that too.

Damon said...

Sanez is a can we need to get Loney back up

Damon said...

Thanks for the offer Steve but I live here in Oregon. Unless the Dodgers goto the Series in which ill try to coerce my aunt into getting some tickets.

Orel said...

I just checked my e-mail. Four lenders want to talk to me!

Orel said...

...a "Tomato" can?

Orel said...

Bring your aunt!

Orel said...

Nice, Broxton!

Orel said...

SIGNATURE QUICKNESS

Steve Sax said...

Damon, no sweat. Keep us posted, though.

It's probably all for the best as all the Sons are 15-year olds anyway.

Nice hit, Pierre! Make it count and steal second!

Orel said...

SIGNATURE QUICKNESS

Orel said...

I thought Vin meant roller skates.

Orel said...

C'mon, Nomes.

Orel said...

Made you waste a pitch!

Orel said...

booooo

Orel said...

Has anyone played God of War II yet?

Orel said...

Pierre should grow a goatee.

Orel said...

SIGNATURE QUICK—never mind

Damon said...

Pierre was out

Steve Sax said...

Holy smokes that was close. You could see Wilson sneaking up behind Pierre...those sneaky Pirates.

Steve Sax said...

What was the point of walking Gonzo to get to Martin? I guess we'll find out...

Orel said...

Kirk Gibson on Diamondvision. No pressure, Russell.

Steve Sax said...

Remember, the Padres won, so our lead in the NL West is only 1.5 games as of this second.

Steve Sax said...

Oh, boy. 1-1 count on Martin. I'm dying here. I need a beer.

Orel said...

COLTRANE

Steve Sax said...

If I were Tracy I'd play a five-man infield as well. It's the walk to Gonzo that I don't understand.

Steve Sax said...

Oh yeah! A Walk-off Grand Slam, only diminished by frickin' Tag Team playing over the loudspeakers.

Orel said...

WOGS

Steve Sax said...

Way to go, Russell! Nice way to get your first-ever grand slam.

Good night, everybody.

Damon said...

and she isssss gone

Orel said...

virtual high-fives all around