Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Game 41 Thread: May 16 vs. Cardinals, 7.10p

Dodgers start Randy Wolf, LHP (4-3, 3.94) vs. Kip Wells, RHP (1-7, 6.51).

Dodgers: 24-16 (1st place NL West, 3.0 GA, W1)
Cardinals: 16-21 (5th place NL Central, 8.0 GB, L1)

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

Dodgers: In his last outing, Randy Wolf dominated the Cincinnati Reds. He shut them out for seven innings and struck out a season-high 11 batters. Wolf, who has had trouble in the first inning of games, did not struggle Friday night, allowing just four hits and no walks in the outing. In six career starts against the Cardinals, Wolf is 2-3 with 3.67 ERA.

Cardinals: If you're the glass-half-full type, there were things to like in Wells' last start. He struck out eight and cut the damage from seven runs to four. Still, the right-hander needs to stop letting innings and situations get away from him. Wells fares well as long as the bases are empty, but once runners get on, he loses his edge. Wells must remain consistent throughout a game.

COMMENTS:

  • Okay, so here's how it works. The first team to eight or more runs wins. Monday night, it was the Cardinals, who had an 8-spot by the third inning. Last night, it was the Dodgers, who had nine runs by their third inning frame. Tonight, we'll see. Both teams have their squad's strikeout leader on the mound (Wolf's 55 Ks ranks third in the NL; Wells' 36 Ks ties him for 26th place in the NL, along with Derek Lowe). We'll see if one team can break through.
  • Rafael Furcal was batting .218 going into Saturday's game with the Reds. Since then, he has gone 2-for-4 followed by three consecutive 4-hit games--the first time this has happened in LA Dodgers history--and has now raised his batting average all the way to .297. Furcal's three-run triple in the bottom of the third yesterday blew the game wide open and essentially won the game for LA. Keep up the great work, Raffy!

32 comments:

Orel said...

Anyone know how many consecutive days the Dodgers have been in first place?

Eric Karros said...

15 days, after beating Arizona 5/1 to go a half game up on them (16-11)

Eric Karros said...

if memory serves

Orel said...

Thanks. It feels like the rest of the division is underachieving.

Orel said...

Or I'm pessimistic.

Steve Sax said...

Hey, a .600 clip ain't too shabby...

Steve Sax said...

And it's time for Dodger Baseball!!!

Let's hope for a good first inning from Wolf, as that seems to be the key for him.

Steve Sax said...

EK, good to have you on tonight. Or is it morning where you are? How are you feeling about your new Prime Minister, Sarkozy?

Eric Karros said...

Bon soir Sax. Gamecast locked and loaded. Will try to hang for a few innings.

Steve Sax said...

Vinny on the car radio, cards down in order. All is good.

Orel said...

Big nasty redhead at your side?

Steve Sax said...

Raffy with a double! Three hits to go...

Steve Sax said...

And Slappy Pierre gets the sacrifice. Furcal at third with one out in the first.

Steve Sax said...

Nomar pushes one past the drawn-in Eckstein. Burned ya', David. 1-0 LA.

Steve Sax said...

Dodgers are 18-3 when they score first...

Orel said...

GameCast is logy.

Eric Karros said...

Gamecast seems to be a few batters behind, but now I know what to expect

Damon said...

Furcal will hit a homerun tonight

Orel said...

Damon is praying for power.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Unless Steve Nash starts at Catcher, something tells me I'm not watching much of tonight's game.

Orel said...

LaRoche is a walking machine.

Orel said...

No, but the Dodgers have another Canadian treasure at catcher.

Orel said...

Shaky inning by Wolf, although the damage seems to have been contained.

Steve Sax said...

What the hell, man? I leave you guys for a second and we're down 3-1.

Steve Sax said...

Furcal can't get his four hits if Wells pitches away all the time.

Steve Sax said...

Gotta say, that was a nice RBI and 10-pitch AB from Slappy Juan. 3-2 Cards.

Steve Sax said...

The Juan Pierre at bat may have flustered Kipster. He walks Nomar to load the bases with 2 out in the 4th. Kent has 13 GS in his career and has not hit one in two years.

Orel said...

Heyyyyy...we leave the bases loaded again.

Damon said...

Wolf is inconsistent

Orel said...

I think Wilson Betemit has found his calling!

Orel said...

We need four innings of relief. C'mon bullpen, use the Force!

Steve Sax said...

And a close win, but a win nonetheless. Dodgers take the series. Saito picks up his 13th save.

Good night, everybody!