Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Game 157 Thread: Sept. 25 vs. Rockies, 7p

Dodgers start Brad Penny, RHP (16-4, 2.93) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez, RHP (4-4, 4.14).

Dodgers: 80-76 (4th place NL West, E; 5th place WC, 5.0 GB and virtually-E; W1)
Rockies: 84-72 (3rd place NL West, 4.0 GB; 3rd place WC, 1.0 GB; W8)

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

Dodgers: Penny allowed three home runs in six innings, yet qualified for a quality start and was in position to win a career-high 17th until the suddenly shaky bullpen gave away another win in the eighth inning. Penny was more effective with the bat, getting two hits, driving in a run and scoring another. He's 12-2 against the Rockies lifetime, and 2-0 this season.

Rockies: Jimenez bounced back Thursday after a shaky start in his previous outing against the Marlins when he lasted only three innings and gave up five runs -- two earned -- on five hits with four walks. Jimenez could not locate his pitches that day, but Thursday against the Dodgers his fastball command was back. While he didn't get his usual strikeouts -- he recorded only one on the day -- he held the Dodgers scoreless until the seventh inning when they scored three and he made his first mistake, leaving a fastball up to Andre Ethier, who knocked it out of the park. Even with his poor start against the Marlins, Jimenez has gone 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA over his last eight starts and helped keep the Rockies in the playoff hunt.

COMMENTS: The Rockies were a .500 team eight days ago, before rolling to sweeps over the hapless Dodgers and imploding Padres. Now they're the third horse in the wild-card race, one game out. Tonight, we have a chance to claw back into third place in the NL West, as well as spoil the Rockies' post-season hopes. Crap, as I type that last sentence I think about how pathetic the Dodgers' situation is. I need a drink.

20 comments:

Rhonda said...

I hope the Angels and their manager choke in their own shit. Go Indians, Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers or whoever plays them. You cannot route for the Angels and be a true Dodger fan.

Steve Sax said...

Forever blue, where have you been all this time?

And by the way, I don't exactly agree with you on the Angels thing...the YankMes and Red Sox disgust me too much. Any true dodgers fan who lived through the 70s and 80s would have to agree with hating the yankees, at least.

Alex Cora said...

Loney on first - hey Kent, one of the Rooks is on base, you still pissed about that?

Rhonda said...

I don't like those teams either, but if they can destroy the Angels, it will be sweet!! Unfortunately I am a Dodger fan.

Alex Cora said...

LOOOONNNEEEYYYYY!!!! Takes the lead with a homer.

Alex Cora said...

KENT IS SOOOO SLOW! Out at home.

Alex Cora said...

I think a rookie could have scored on that fly ball.

Steve Sax said...

Grady Little pulls Penny for no reason after a short five innings and up 5-4. Lurch promptly comes in and gives up a two-run HR to give the Rockies the lead. YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL GRADY LITTLE PITCHING DECISION.

Luckily for me, I'm drunk.

Steve Sax said...

Two out in the top of the seventh, Lurch just got a force at second (leaving a sole runner at first), and here comes Grady to call for Seanez. Ah, okay...

Steve Sax said...

...Seanez comes in and quickly gives up a single, putting runners on first and second, still two out. Rocks up 6-5.

Steve Sax said...

Seanez gets a K for the final out. Well, that was close.

Steve Sax said...

Oh yeah, that Mike Sweeney, great pickup Ned. Weak ground out to end the 7th, dodgers down 6-5.

Steve Sax said...

Finally someone on the Dodgers shows some mettle. Rocks get a two-out double, and Proctor greets Holliday with a beaning. At least someone is trying to show some backbone around here (besides the ever-crusty Jeff Kent).

Steve Sax said...

Helton gets a hit to cash in Tulowitzki. 7-5 Rockies.

Just to be clear, phils and pads have lost, so the Rockies are actually playing for something here--a three-way WC tie. But it's not like the Dodgers want to play tonight with feeling or anything.

Steve Sax said...

LaRoche keeps ripping foul balls down the left field line. However he has 2 Ks tonight. Now a full count with two on...
Base Hit! Martin scores, Ethier to third. Way to go Andy!

Steve Sax said...

Big PH at bat for Nomar, who pops to short. Feeble.

Two out, two on. And here comes Slappy.

Steve Sax said...

Slappy has a four-pitch walk, and here comes Kemp. We saw what happened when "veteran" Nomar batted. What about "rookie" Kemp, with the bases juiced?

Steve Sax said...

Fly out by Kemp, slightly less feeble than Nomar.

7-6 Rockies. Way to blow a golden opportunity.

Steve Sax said...

Padres won in the ninth on a giles 3-run HR.

Rocks up by one in the ninth here in LA.

Steve Sax said...

I think I drank too much.