Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Game 133 Thread: August 29 vs. Nationals, 12.10p

Dodgers start Brad Penny, RHP (14-4, 2.65) vs. Shawn Hill, RHP (3-3, 2.31).

Dodgers: 69-63 (3rd place NL West, 4.5 GB; 3rd place WC, 3.5 GB; W3)
Nationals: 58-75 (T-4th place NL East, 16.0 GB, L5)

Current postseason odds for the Dodgers, from Baseball Prospectus: 27.5%

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

Dodgers: Penny had trouble with the top of the Mets' order, and he was unusually wild, a bad combination when the Dodgers' offense isn't scoring. In his four losses, the offense has supported him with only four runs. He's only 5-11 lifetime against the Mets and 1-9 at Shea Stadium, so the outcome wasn't a complete surprise. He's 12-5 with a 2.21 ERA lifetime against Washington/Montreal.

Nats: On Friday, the Nationals lost to the Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning, and it spoiled a nice outing by Hill, who faced Rockies left-hander Jeff Francis. They became the first Canadian-born pitchers to face each other since July 1, 2000, when Marlins right-hander Ryan Dempster faced Expos right-hander Mike Johnson. Hill, who is from Mississauga, Ontario, pitched seven innings and gave up one run on four hits. The run scored in the first inning, when Troy Tulowitzski drove in Kazuo Matsui with a single to right field to tie the score at 1. At one point during the game, Hill retired 12 consecutive batters.

The lineup, from ITD, shows Ethier sitting so Gonzo can get another start. I hope this pays off.

Furcal, SS
Pierre, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Gonzo, LF
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
Hillenbrand, 3B
Penny, P

33 comments:

Steve Sax said...

The last business-person's special of the year! Who's going?

Orel said...

Not Brad Penny, apparently.

Steve Sax said...

Brad Penny's post-All Star Break swoon is now offically upon us.

Steve Sax said...

Apparently, either everyone is at the game sans blackberry, or everone is working. Like me.

Steve Sax said...

Nice job Lurch, two runs given up in one short inning. Now we're down 8-3 to a last-place team.

Steve Sax said...

Loney is the MAN! 8-6 on a bases-clearing double

Steve Sax said...

If Lurch hadn't given up two runs, this would be a tie game.

And if Woody had gone to the police, this would never have happened.

Steve Sax said...

Shea Hillenbrand with a HR! TIE GAME!

Steve Sax said...

This game is crazy. Washington scores in the top of the seventh off an ineffective Seanez and Beimel, so it's 9-8 Nats.

Then Kemp comes out to leadoff the bottom of the seventh and bangs another home run, tying it up. GO DODGERS!!!!

Steve Sax said...

"Mr. RBI", as Jon W has called him, now pinch-hitting for Beimel (in a very weird double switch that can only be due to the desire to keep Ethier in and Gonzo out)

Steve Sax said...

9-9, man on third with one out. Martin Ks for out #2, and here comes Free James Loney...

Steve Sax said...

Dammit, Loney swings at a bad pitch (inside) and pops to the catcher.

Onto the eighth, tie game...

Steve Sax said...

Broxton pitches a smooth eighth. Now let's get him a run!

Steve Sax said...

Furcal is 0-for-5 today. Ugh.

On to the ninth in a tie game. Saito is pitching.

Steve Sax said...

Two out in top 9, but Church (who has killed us all day) gets his fourth hit. Saito escapes the inning, though...

...and Pierre opens up the ninth with his THIRD fly out of the game. Thanks, Juan!

Steve Sax said...

If the Nats are smart, they'll walk Kent here with two out in the ninth, forcing the hand of Grady to pull or bat Saito.

Steve Sax said...

And Kent indeed walks. Saito is lifted for the Killer Tomato, who has been MISERABLE of late. Two out in the ninth.

Steve Sax said...

Well he's still miserable she strikes out on five pitches. Off we go to extras.

Steve Sax said...

Dammit Andre, take a damn pitch every once in a while. Surprise us.

To the 11th.

Orel said...

Whoopee...another extra-innings gem.

Orel said...

squander (verb) to spend or use extravagantly or wastefully

Steve Sax said...

Furcal opens up the 11th with his sixth out of the day. He's now 0-for-6.

Steve Sax said...

Three up three down for the Dodgers. On to the 12th. Who wants it more?

Orel said...

I think Grady is determined to kill Scott Proctor.

Orel said...

It's just a given you run on Pierre, no matter how shallow the single is.

Orel said...

A near-miraculous DP saves the Dodgers' bacon.

Steve Sax said...

Fick GIDPs for the second time today. That was CLOSE. We gotta win it here in the 12th...

Orel said...

Stults can't bunt. Loney couldn't earlier. Where are the fundamentals?

Orel said...

Martin doubles! Kent is slow! Still a tie game!

Orel said...

SHEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Orel said...

Nice slide by Kent!

Orel said...

Look at Ethier jump up and down! Great enthusiasm!

Orel said...

Ethier helps Kent up after Kent's head-first slide. Both smiling. Nice sight.