Hiroki Kuroda (1-2) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (1-2).
COMMENTS: Can you believe the Dodgers have been shut out only once this season? Problem is, they've also scored only one run six times—all losses. Alternating losses and wins the past five games, the Dodgers have demonstrated it's gnot about gnomes and there's no mo' momentum. Rather, it's about batting average with runners in scoring position (.254) and opponent batting average with men on (.287).
Kuroda has been steady but unspectacular in his first four starts as a Dodger, averaging just over six innings a start with a 2.92 ERA. Jimenez struggled in his last Dodger Stadium appearance, giving up five earned runs in four innings. Conditions are ripe for a Dodger win, if only to perpetuate the frustrating L-W-L-W-L pattern.
Tonight's lineup:
Furcal, SS
Jones, CF
Garciaparra, 3B
Kent, 2B
Loney, 1B
Martin, C
Ethier, RF
Pierre, LF
Kuroda, P
Is it a coincidence Matt Kemp misplayed a fly ball and struck out with the bases loaded yesterday and Juan Pierre's in the lineup today? Meanwhile, Andruw Jones is inexplicably batting second in the order for a third straight game.
171 comments:
Wow, seats aren't even warm and we're down 1-0. Kuroda's struggling.
Vin's in full story mode tonight!
4-6-3 DP!
8 up, 3 down. 1-0 Rockies, we get out of it cheaply enough. And the Rockies' pitcher will bat first next inning.
Whoops, we're in the 2nd inning. Ground-rule double for Kent!
Loney doubles in Kent! We're all tied up!
BACK TO BACK doubles
Wild pitch moves King James to 3rd!
It's nice to see some hitting when we're not down by like, nine runs.
3-2-5-3 DP. Shit. Hard to avoid that, though, and Russell's on second.
Pierre works the walk. At least this gets Kuroda's AB out of the way.
Hey Damon, I just watched last night's Office. That was a pretty tense episode.
watch this kuroda hit
Vin's saying Gil Hodges threw a mean knuckleball.
Kuroda's up to 44 pitches.
Kuroda's throwing BP. 2-1 Rockies.
4-1 Rockies. Kuroda isn't fooling anyone.
Welcome to the usual insurmountable 3-run lead!
Sweet drag bunt by Furcal.
Andruw Jones singles. He looks as stunned as we are!
Nomar RBI! 4-2 Rockies, men on 1st & 2nd w/no out.
Wow, Jimenez just threw two WPs to score Jones. 4-3 Rockies.
Jimenez plunks Loney on the foot! Ouch!
Russell ties it up! I didn't think we could do it.
Bases loaded, one out...and Juan Pierre up. Let's crack this one open, JP.
Take that, sez JP! 2-run single, 6-4 Dodgers. Boy, the Rockies' bullpen must be really bad for Hurdle to have waited this long to yank Jimenez.
Pierre is now the only Dodger with two RBI. Kuroda hits a HR here, though, and he would have three RBI.
Raffy with a walk!
Hey, I'm up here in SF this weekend, and my brother (a Giants fan) graciously fired up mlb.com tv for me. I'm listening to Vin call the game. This is awesome.
All right, Jones, get a hit here or the boos will be unrelenting.
And Andruw K's with the bases loaded. Last two swings were at balls clearly out of the strike zone.
Jones bending over at the waist is not a pretty sight.
BOOOOOOOOO
Giants are ahead of the reds 1-0
Sax, are you watching the Giants game too?
Aflac trivia question:
Who's the only Dodger ever to lead the NL in average and RBIs?
Here we go again...Kuroda gives up a double to Torrealba.
Hey Sax—Dodger Thoughts is using that Schmap widget.
If Joe Torre married Jessica Alba, would he be Joe Torre-Alba?
Giants game is on in the other room. It's pissing my sister, an A's fan, off (but at least the A's are up 4-1).
Orel, I don't know about you but I don't think the Schmap widget is all that good yet. I'm all for widgets, but let's find one that's a little more informational.
Orel, Yor rapier Vit is on fire tonight.
Orel, that said, if you want to schmap, we can schmap.
Could a lighter Jones have gotten to that ball? We'll never know. 6-5 Dodgers. Don't think that'll be the final score, either.
Crap, 6-5 Dodgers.
WOWWWWWWWW an amazing ranging play by Furcal to throw out Tulo and save an RBI!
Oh goody, the Yogi Aflac commercial!
FURRRRRR CAL saves the Dodgers' inning!
Okay, I'm open to talking about an extension for Furcal.
At least I don't get the Yogi aflac commercial on mlb tv. Though the shot of the goose with the afro really cracks me up.
Hey, I think my feed is about a minute behind real-time (or at least the DirecTV feed).
Spurs are killing the Suns.
trivia answer: Tommy Davis in 1962 (.346 avg., 153 RBIs)
The Suns look like a convalescent home out there with Shaq and Grant Hill playing.
No, I'm still unimpressed by the Schmap widget. Let's keep looking.
Ethier with the RBI double! Better yet, we're getting hits with two out!
Sweet hit by Andre! Even more so that it was on an 0-2 count and he kept his poise.
Donnelly would have sent Martin in to be slaughtered at home, btw.
IBB to JP to load the bases for Kuroda. Hard to believe it's only the 4th inning.
Pierre with the IBB. You've gotta be kidding me.
Here's Kuroda, batting an Andruw Jones-like .100.
Kuroda should do a bat flip here.
At least he made contact. 7-5 Dodgers.
Giants just scored a second run when the Reds overthrew home plate with no one backing up the catcher. 2-0, bottom eight.
Matt Kemp replacing Jones in CF. I think Andruw wants to hit the post-game buffet early.
No, I'll be at the still-sleeping-orium.
What the hell was Helton thinking? Who cares, he's out!
Furcal does everything well.
I am a zero-tool player.
Replay on Furcal's amazing play. He makes Jeter look like dogmeat!
Jones has a contusion on his left calf. And is fat.
Missed the pickoff, how sweet was it?
That contusion is giving Jones a 1-for-3 game, which certainly helps his March Toward Mendoza (TM)...
Meanwhile, top 9 @ PacBell/AT&T and PH Phillips strokes a home run, and the next batter reaches on a base hit. Sanchez, with a two hitter, is finally chased, with the Giants up 3-1 and the tying run at the plate with none out.
I can't wait for Talladega SuperSpeedway!!! Thanks for that inset graphic, Fox!
Orel: fast typing is one of the five tools, I think. So you've got that going for you.
Oh god...Kemp picked off. Not helping his cause any.
Dammit Kemp, how many baserunning gaffes can you possibly make?
"This has not been a well-played game." —Vin
It was more Heltons fault. It looked like Helton was taking a secondary lead and then Kuroda picked him off.
Kemp didn't want Helton to feel bad.
Vin's color scheme tonight is not all that flattering. Or maybe it's my computer monitor.
Crap, I think the Giants just won.
Even when Furcal makes a mistake he still makes the play!
Vin was dressed for fall.
Hi guys! i'm watching the game, Vin Scully narrating and loving every minute of it!
Epale, Karina!
Martin doubles. Some insurance wouldn't be so bad here....
I think Andre's been hit three consecutive games now.
Balk moves runners to 2nd & 3rd. They're trying to give us runs! Take advantage!
Alas, the Dodgers fail to take advantage.
Loney vacuum!
Cory Wade's up to his hips in trouble. 1st & 3rd for the Rockies, 1 out.
how about that Loney glove? go King James!
it seems Martin finally is getting out of that awful slump.
btw, somebody would explain to me your latest Martin graphs? i don't get them!
don't mess with the kids, Holliday!
Dammit, WP. 7-6 Dodgers.
...but Wade's got some stuff. Gets a K to end the inning. Still 7-6.
Karina, we know the Martin graphs don't make much sense. We were just having some fun with Photoshop.
*blushing*randomness!
there is a venezuelan baseball journalist who calls Broxton "La Bestia" (The Beast)
looove that nick!
And Broxton mows 'em down in the 8th!
Randomness indeed!
"The Beast." I like it!
Okay Russell, just pop an insurance homer here and we can all go home happy. Except the Rockies, that is.
Single'll do!
A 4-pitch walk from Saito. Not a great start here.
What the F just happened, and why is Martin playing third? Where is Nomar?
You've got to be shitting me. Nomar's hurt, so TORRE IS PUTTING RUSSELL MARTIN AT THIRD BASE.
It feels like we're in the Twilight Zone.
Damn Nomar and his bad hamstring and .226 batting average.
Somewhere, Blake DeWitt fumes.
I believe DeWitt has to be in the minors for ten days before he can be recalled.
I love Russell Martin, he's such a team player.
Directv Extra Innings stopped working, but one of the announcers of Fox Sports said:
"Russell Martin has never played at the third base"
and then pay him to talk about baseball?
Passed ball by Bennett! Tie game! This sucks!
GARY BENNETT SUUUUUUCKS
Oh man, this is painful. Nomar, Pierre, Jones, Kent, it seems like all the vets are falling apart only 20 games into the season.
We have no other choice than to have a youth movement...despite all the money we have locked up with these guys.
Holliday grounds into the DP! Will Saito pitch two innings? Stay tuned!
We'll take the DP, but this still sucks. Come on, Dodgers.
Why wouldn't we be able to call up DeWitt, at any time?
Pierre, Hu, Furcal coming up in the bottom of the ninth.
All right, Slappy, hit a home run and I won't write a bad word about you until June.
DT guys say we might be able to call DeWitt up if he replaces someone on the DL.
Former Dodger Matt Herges on the mound for the Rocks. Great.
Pierre walks! Rabbit loose!
Can Nomar go on the 250-day DL?
And take Jones with him?
Gameday is about 20 seconds ahead of Vin, from where I am streaming.
Which means you are two batters ahead, Orel.
Pierre loose! Rabbit walks!
We've got to send Pierre with Furcal batting. Come on, now.
This inning is going to take forever.
With Bennett next and Saito after that, we've got to send Pierre. And he'd better make it.
Herges, pitch the damn ball.
Another balk would be nice now.
Okay Kemp, send us home!
Sorry, I forgot we've got Kemp before Bennett. You're our only hope, Matt.
wow, Kemp chased that high fastball
Torre outsmarted by Hurdle! Pitchout-CS!
Crap, we go to extras.
I may have to go to sleep.
I hope Saito can bear down here.
I'm sorry, sleep calls. Hold down the fort, Orel!
Hu doing his best Furcal imitation!
Jones has a contusion on his stomach, too
Night, Sax!
Sorry Orel, g'night.
Saito with the K for out #2. Nice to see some of the old magic back.
1-2-3 for Saito. Nice job!
Rockies trot out Herges again for the bottom of the 10th. Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.
Kemp works the count full but whiffs on a breaking pitch. Now it's Gary Bennett's chance to play hero.
Bennett, first pitch swinging, pops out. Mark "Goat" Sweeney up.
Ugh. Chan Ho Park coming in for the 11th. I hope this doesn't go 22 innings!
Perfect comebacker to Park! One out.
Damn, Chan Ho slips on a bunt. One on.
Why are they pitching out with Bennett? It's not like he's going to throw anyone out.
See? Stolen base.
"Deer Meat" Barmes flies out to RF. 2 out.
Park fields this one cleanly. On to the bottom of the 11th!
I'm sleepy.
Actually two (or possibly three) truly non-sarcastic questions:
1) Has Sweeney had a PH all year? Does he have any RBI?
2) Has Park been in a game this year and NOT given up a HR?
Russell walks with one out.
Mark Sweeney: 1 hit
Chan Ho Park: 4 homerless games (7 appearances)
This inning is also going to take forever.
Ethier skies one. 2 out.
Martin CS. To the 12th.
Park vs. the heart of the Rockies' order here.
Helton walks, Holliday single. The beginning of the end.
DP but Helton to 3rd. IBB to Hawpe, Torre-Alba up.
Comebacker to Chan Ho ends the inning. I did not believe, but here we are.
Pierre flies out to left at the stroke of midnight.
Hu F-8
Surprisingly Furcal is not swinging for the fences here.
E-Deer Meat! Kemp on!
e6
Hit & run! Bennett gets his first hit of the season (I think)! Men on 1st & 3rd, 0 out!
Park grounds out. 2nd & 3rd, 1 out. IBB to Loney to load 'em for Martin.
Damon, you're still with us!
RUSSELL MARTIN. Good night, all!
time of game = 4 hours, 38 minutes
Believe it or not, I brought my blackberry to bed to "watch" the game--huge win for the good guys.
Now let's please recall DeWitt.
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