Game 19 Thread: April 22 vs Pirates, 1.10p

Dodgers start Brett Tomko, RHP (0-0, 1.64) vs. Tom Gorzelanny, LHP (2-0, 1.33).

Dodgers: 13-5 (1st place NL West, best record in the major leagues, 2.0 GA, W3)
Pirates: 6-10 (6th/last place NL Central, 3.5 GB, L4)

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

Dodgers: In his second start of the season, Tomko didn't exactly pitch the gem he threw in his first start of the season, when he shut out the Rockies for six innings. He struggled through five innings, allowing four runs and 12 baserunners. Tomko was 1-0 against Pittsburgh last year.

Pirates: Gorzelanny has been excellent in his first three starts of the season. The lefty shut down the Cardinals twice and also picked up a win in Houston. He was two outs shy of picking up his first career complete game in his last start against the Cards. Gorzelanny has only thrown one inning in his career at Dodger Stadium, and allowed three runs.

COMMENTS

• Not sure how you follow up all of the excitement of last night's Russell Martin walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning. The first grand slam of Martin's career capped an otherwise lackluster game for the Dodgers, who slept through most of the first eight innings before the speedy Wilson Valdez took second, third, and home on Pirates catcher Ronny Paulino, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth. That was just an hors d'ouevre for the 10th, however, when Russell took a Shawn Chacon pitch into the Dodgers bullpen for the win. The Dodgers are so hot right now, they can show up in the equivalent of the final minutes of the fourth quarter, and still pull out a win.
• But wait a second here, let's not forget it's the Pirates about which we're talking. Pirates starter Ian Snell kept the lineup pretty sedated on Saturday, allowing only five hits over seven innings. That stench you smell while leaving the Stadium was likely Rafael Furcal's .158 average (his 0-for-5 in the leadoff spot narrowly edged out Juan Pierre's 1-for-5 performance from the two hole), with Betemit's 0-for-2 performance in the eight hole contributing to his even stinkier .125 BA. Again, the Dodgers are finding ways to win even while somnambulating through most of the game; against a more formidable opponent, such quarter would not be expected.

UPDATE

From Inside the Dodgers, the lineup:

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Saenz, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzalez, LF
Martin, C
Clark, RF
Valdez, 3B
Tomko, P

Saenz with the rare start. Seems like a good time as any to rest Nomar.