Derek Lowe (0-1, 3.38) vs. Joe Blanton (0-0, -.--).
COMMENTS: What a difference one game makes. We're back in this, mofos! The Dodgers, with fire in their belly and yearning in their souls, return to the field today after yesterday's 7-2 shellacking of Jamie Moyer and the Phillies.
But lest anyone get complacent, let's not forget one more Phillies win puts them a breath away from taking the series. The Dodgers trot out Lowe on three days' rest in hopes that he can sinkerball his way to his first NLCS victory; although Nomar Garciaparra performed admirably in his first playoff start this year, expect James Loney to start against the right-handed Blanton.
In 11 innings of work over two games against L.A. this season, Philadelphia's mid-season acquisition Blanton gave up 15 hits, five runs, two home runs, and six walks, but also had ten strikeouts. (The Dodgers and Phillies split those two games.)
However, Blanton also beat the Brewers in the NLDS, so let's strap on a pair (while keeping the peace) and tie this sucker up!
DeWitt photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
Furcal: AP photos
141 comments:
SoSG Alex Cora will be at tonight's game, representing.
GO DODGERS!
Furcal, SS
Ethier, RF
Manny, LF
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
DeWitt, 2B
Blake, 3B
Pierre, CF
Lowe, P
Note your starting center fielder.
Hmmm, I say. Hmmm.
I have two tickets in the outfield that are not going to be used tonight. I can email them to the first person that wants them. Go Karma!
These lineup decision worries me, i guess Torre wants some hit and run, putting Pierre on the 8th slot, it could work with Furcal's speed, given Juan for four mode doesn't show up tonight. Other factor to be considered: Pierre has a successful experience in the playoffs.
However, i'd rather have Kemp there, maybe the coaches want him to work out the causes of his slump.
grammar edit: This
Game time, here we go...
LF, doesn't Karma work at Crazy Girls?
Hopefully the gesture will make up for the two empty seats in the outfield. I would go but I just got the tickets one half hour ago and I live about an hour and half away from the stadium.
Orel, I was going to make a joke about Phillies fans, their mothers, and Crazy Girls but I think that would ruin the whole karma thing I was going for.
Lowe does not appear to have his "A" game.
1st & 3rd, no out. Would you trade a DP for a run here?
No DP, one run. No outs.
Warm up Kershaw NOW.
Is anyone warming up?
Maybe the Phillies are still so mad they'll hit all our players and force in several runs for us.
Lowe gets the inning-ending DP. Phils 2, Dodgers.
...0
Raffy first-pitch swinging, singles!
Wow Lowe!
Why is there an empty section in the center of the stands, directly behind home plate in the lower reserve? We were at the game yesterday and that section was empty all game.
Chickenshits!
I think it's an expanded press section.
Was Martin pressing?
Wow, Blanton is getting first-pitch strikes. Not good for us.
James!
2-1 Phils!
King James RBI double!, the series would be so different if some balls could travel a few inches...
Let's rough this guy up!
Hope, they can overcome this...
Hope, they can overcome this...
At least DeWitt made contact. We can hit this guy.
I have a feeling we're going to need more than three runs to win this game.
Ground out then strikeout. Keep it down, Lowe.
YES! K's Rollins!
Why is Casey Blake bunting on the first pitch of the inning?
There should be no backwards K's in this game.
My heart stopped for a while on that foul...
It happened the old saying "after a large foul, it comes a strike out". Sigh.
Pierre with the MONSTER single!
Pierre CS. Then Lowe singles. Of course.
Pierre on defense makes me very nervous.
Orel, your first pitch was quite outside. Again, you could kill puppies and sell drugs to children and i'll still have very pleasant memories of you.
Here we go. Let's get some runs!
Hmmm, Lowe may be settling down. Let's score!
Karina, I'll keep that in mind next time I have to kill some puppies and sell drugs to children.
That was a close pitch.
C'mon, Russ!
Why are they so worried about Manny at first?
Soft single, runners on the corners.
Dodgers have to capitalize here.
Damn it.
C'mon DeWitt, another RBI chance!
Chavez decided to have a national chain and Fox signal is not working. This situation defines frustration.
Why first-pitch swinging???
I hope, hope, hope Blake is not signed during the offseason.
Here we go! Here we go!
Back to back singles by Furcal and Ethier! No outs. Manny!!!!!!!
Manny RBI double! at the very first pitch!
My son RBI grounder. Here King James comes!
Close one, sheesh! Watch out, there goes the solution!
That was close of disaster, thanks Lord because Ethier didn't drop the ball.
Wild pitch, game tied.
Beimel to take charge of the mound. Too much drama for my heart...
Ethier made a SPECTACULAR play!. I hope Torre realizes he doesn't have to fight for a starting position at the spring training.
Andre, what a catch!
*swoons*
Blake solo HR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!let's go BLUE!
Dodgers 4-Phillies 3
Pierre doubles! No outs. Time for a pinch-hitter, Garciaparra, Kent?
It's Kemp, let's go Bison!
And Mighty Casey has...GONE YARD!
Blake has redeemed himself.
Pierre was this close to get caught stealing...
Kemp walks!
Anyone drinking "Joe Torre Bullpen Management brand Haterade" tonight? Lets get a crooked number here, weeeeeeee!
Hello, boys and girls. I'm in a place where the only shot I have to watch this game is over "fox feeds" and a bad broadband connection. Not bad, but let's just say so far, the Dodgers have shown a pretty gritty performance....
GO DODGERS!
Ryan Howe-3rd
Furcal bunted, then Howard makes a bad throw, Kemp scores! Dodgers 5-Phillies 3
Hey Karina, have you told Hugo that the place where Dodger Stadium is shares his namesake??
I only have four views: home plate, the two dugout cams, and a fourth camera angle that keeps rotating but doesn't show anything meaningful.
No announcers.
Stadium noise, sans announcers, sounds raucous and deafening!
What happened on the Furcal bunt, and how did it become an RBI?
karina, did Howard make a bad throw to Eyre covering first? Please describe the play...
Third walk for the Manny Monster...
A bad throw by Howard, Steve. By the way, Manny IBB.
Nope. Howard had to go deep down to get the bunt, he made the bad throw to Utley, who moved to cover first.
Andrew, i wouldn't tell him in a million years. I'm sure he hasn't found out about it, yet. If he knew, he would make millions of references about it.
Oh, Martin's DP was bad.
Martin, 0-for-4 with 7 LOB in the cleanup slot...
Kuo's here!
and makes Rollins ground out and gives a couple of K's. Awesome.
Gotta hand it to Russell, he called a great inning of pitch selection in the seventh, right after his deflating GIDP. Way to keep your head in the game, Martin!
Wow, I can hear everyone singing TMOTTB crystal clear. "root, root for the DODGERS!
Nancy Bea never sounded better!
Let's go, Loney!
Seven-pitch walk to DeWitt!
One away. Blake is up, followed b Kuo in the eight hole.
Kuo at the plate. Boy, this is your night!
PH for Kuo, right?
Great sac bunt!. Go Rafael!
Why are we batting Kuo?
Yes, Steve.
#100!
BTW, snagged comment 100 back there...
Maybe Torre liked what he saw and wants him to pitch the 8th. Maybe giving some rest to Brox...
You were quicker than me, Steve. Sorry.
Good bunt, Kuo...cash the check, Kemp!
crap
Not batting for Kuo is curious...let's hope that doesn't come back to bite us.
Berroa to play second and replace DeWitt? Oh, my. Is Torre getting paid by the substitution?
we need a dp here
And here comes Wade.
WHY DIDN'T WE PH FOR KUO???
Come on, Joe Torre...I'll keep the faith in your moves here...
I'll take that fly out.
You're so right, Steve. Maybe getting Garciaparra for Kuo could have paid off. You never have enough runs when you play with the Phillies.
Typing that, Victorino 2 run HR. And i still can't hate him.
Why put in Wade? Why why why!?
Oh man, I am dying here
Hey, Wade is human... problem is he picked a wrong time to behave like it.
I don't think this ends well tonight, Dodger fans. My heart has sunk.
Faith, Steve, let's have some faith. We should also pray Victorino gets mildly injured.
Can't believe this. Seriously.
SHIT THIS GAME IS OVER
*cries*
It ain't over 'till it's over. All right?
DAMMIT DAMMIT DAMMIT
A four-run fourth? Come on. All of the pitching moves were bad ones.
--Kuo should have been removed in the seventh for a PH
--If not, then we shouldn't have yanked him for Wade, who is gassed
--Brox is just bad luck but you still have to wonder.
It's over. I'm going to bed.
Broxton is rattled.
Maddux in the bullpen.
Top of the order here. Not over yet.
*cries*
That was harsh.
These next two innings will set the tone for the rest of the series.
And remember this: Berroa is in line to make the last out for the Dodgers in the ninth, now that we've prematurely pulled DeWitt.
I am so frustrated right now, i can't take it.
A walk to start the inning.
As long as no DPs follow . . .
DAMN IT ITIN IOTASLDNFLSHD KSHFLKSHF!
FUCK!
Ethier DP.
This fucking sucks.
Ethier couldnt of took a pitch there?
Manny double!
Manny doubles. I can't watch. I can't watch.
Karma...?
Runners at the corners. King James next...
Let's face it. It wasn't meant to be.
BLERGH!
One final shot here.
This is miserable. Glad to see the fans still cheering, though.
If Blake reaches, look for Jeff Kent playing the role of Kirk Gibson
Kent will K, but still.
Dammit.
So, so sad.
That's it. Good night.
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