Monday, May 07, 2007

Game 32 Thread: May 7 @ Marlins, 4:05p

Dodgers start Brad Penny, RHP (3-0, 1.64) vs. Ricky Nolasco, RHP (1-0, 5.68).

Dodgers: 18-13 (1st place NL West, 1.0 GA, L1)
Marlins: 14-16 (3rd place NL East, 5.0 GB, L2)

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

Dodgers: Penny threw six scoreless innings at the Diamondbacks, but came away with a no-decision in his last start. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter when the Dodgers had a chance to score some runs, although his pitch count had risen to 95 by then with the help of four walks to go with a season-high four strikeouts. Penny will be facing his former Marlins teammates, and he's allowed 10 runs in 11 career innings against them.

Marlins: Impressive in his return to the rotation in his last outing, Nolasco gave up one run in five innings, while striking out five and not allowing a walk in a win over the Mets at Shea Stadium. It was Nolasco's first start of the season, and first appearance since going on the disabled list on April 7 with a sore elbow. The right-hander had command of his fastball and off-speed pitches, scattering six hits.

COMMENTS:

  • A brutal loss to the Braves Sunday afternoon should leave the Dodgers with a bad taste in their mouths as they come up against the Marlins, who lead the league in runs scored (163) as well as runs allowed (163). Let's see if the relief corps, unflappable until yesterday's game, gets its groove back.
  • The Padres, winners of four of their last five, have gained ground on the NL West-leading Dodgers and trail by only a game. They play Atlanta, with first pitch at the same time as the Dodgers (in case you have mlb.com mosaic).

UPDATE 1.49p:

The lineup, from ITD (MLB):
Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Nomar, 1B
Kent, 2B
Gonzo, LF
Martin, C
Ethier, RF
LaRoche, 3B
Penny, P

Welcome to the eight-hole, LaRoche!

51 comments:

Steve Sax said...

Jeff Kent leads off the second with a home run! 1-0 Dodgers.

Hey, where is everybody? Are you working or something? Where are your priorities?

Steve Sax said...

Luis Gonzalez just went all the way to the fifth pitch (1-2 count with two fouls). Stop the presses.

He flied out, anyway.

Orel said...

Well, I'm at work. Whether or not I'm working is a different matter.

Orel said...

Men on the corners with one out!

Orel said...

GameCast says A ROCHE is batting.

Orel said...

Sac fly! Nice job, A ROCHE!

Steve Sax said...

Men at the corners for LaRoche, with one out in the top 2nd... sac fly to right, scoring Martin. Nice job, Andy.

2-0 Dodgers.

Steve Sax said...

Penny may have gotten the third out in the second, but his average (.231) is ahead of Betemit and Martinez.

LaRoche's sac fly was critical to score the runner on third, with the pitcher up next. Nice job, team.

Anonymous said...

You just love William Betemit don't you? He is your favorite.

Steve Sax said...

Penny has struck out five of six batters through two...

Orel said...

Penny: 6 batters, 5 K's. Wow.

Anonymous said...

I meant Wilson Betemit. Sorry

Orel said...

FREE WILLIAM BETEMIT

Steve Sax said...

As long as Betemit keeps hitting home runs during his at bats, I've got no problem with him.

Seriously, with Betemit I believe he just needs a change of pace; they're in his head now. With Martinez, I don't think there's much more upside no matter how long we wait.

Steve Sax said...

Orel, you and I keep commenting like this and they're going to catch on that we're the same person.

Orel said...

Sax, you and I keep commenting like this and they're going to catch on that we're the same person.

Steve Sax said...

Yesterday, the top three spots (Furcal, Pierre, Garciaparra) in our lineup went 0-for-10. Today they are 0-for-2 through three.

At least Kent, who was 0-for-4 yesterday, has already hit a bomb today.

Orel said...

Penny's on fire.

Orel said...

3 1/3 innings in and the Dodgers have collectively hit for the cycle!

Steve Sax said...

Penny has struck out seven through three. Unbelievable.

Nice triple Martin. IBB to Ethier? Wow.

Steve Sax said...

LaRoche tells the Marlins where they can stick their intentional walk. Run-scoring single by LaRoche, 4-0 Dodgers.

Where has this offense been???

Steve Sax said...

And LaRoche can steal, too!

Steve Sax said...

Penny cashes in Ethier AND LaRoche with a single to left. 6-0 Dodgers. Go Blue!

Anonymous said...

That's more like it.

Orel said...

Penny's a monster! Is that 8 K's?

Orel said...

KKKKKKKKK

Anonymous said...

Saxie,
Please don't leave the game until it is OVER. We do not want a repeat of yesterday.

Orel said...

Ah, there goes the you-know-what. But 10 K's for Penny!

Steve Sax said...

Anonymous, I appreciate the fanbase, but you've gotta develop a handle. Otherwise, it feels a little stalker-like.

Steve Sax said...

12 Ks through five innings. Penny is the man.

Steve Sax said...

Adam LaRoche flies out. FREE WILSON BETEMIT.

Just kidding.

Steve Sax said...

Penny grounds out. With 2 RBI, though, he has half as many RBI as Olmedo Saenz.

Steve Sax said...

What, no strikeouts for Penny in the sixth? What a slacker.

6-0 Dodgers, moving to the seventh.

Orel said...

I was thinking the same thing. Trade Penny!

Steve Sax said...

Actually, Orel, we say "Flip Penny."

Steve Sax said...

There's strikeout 13. Nice.

Steve Sax said...

Well, if someone's going to get a double off of Penny tonight, at least it's a Stanford Cardinal (Joe Borchard).

Orel said...

ha

Orel said...

Penny continues his striking-out ways.

Steve Sax said...

A cheapie infield single from Miguel Olivo puts men at the corners here in the bottom of the seventh. Penny had Olivo 0-2 before the count got to 3-2 and then he lost him. Coaching visit to mound. Here's hoping Penny doesn't end with unlucky 13 Ks.

Steve Sax said...

Nope! Eric Reed makes 14 Ks. Thank you, Eric! 6-0 Dodgers, going to the 8th. Brad Penny is en fuego.

Damon said...

I get home just in time to see the end of the game

Steve Sax said...

Meanwhile, San Diego is up 4-2 on the Braves, going to the bottom of the sixth.

What? You hit LaRoche with a pitch? We're coming after you with Olmedo Saenz, who hasn't eaten in three hours...

Steve Sax said...

Penny's day is done and what a day it was, 14Ks through seven. What a stud. Alyssa Milano was right.

Wilson Betemit steps in to pinch hit...his pinch-hit HR streak is over at two, with a strikeout.

Orel said...

Lucky you, Damon.

Steve Sax said...

Furcal grounds out to short, ending the inning. Furcal will end the day 2-for-5 unless the Dodgers go nuts next inning. Pierre (1-for-4) and Nomar (0-for-4) have a chance to pick up some garbage time hits in the ninth.

Steve Sax said...

Okay, the Rudy Seanez Experiment has got to stop, now. I think the Jamie Kennedy Experiment may be more effective.

So much for the shutout.

Steve Sax said...

That makes two straight 0-fer days for Nomar (collectively 0-for-9). Pierre was 1-for-9 and not much better.

Orel said...

Hey, we're up by 5 runs. What could possibly go wrong?

Steve Sax said...

And it's 6-1 Dodgers, final. Good night, everybody!

Orel said...

yay