Monday, July 20, 2009

Post-Game 93 Thread: Schmidt Returns For Dodger Win #2

DODGERS 7, REDS 5

Congratulations to Jason Schmidt for his first win in over a year, which wasn't easy. After giving up three earned runs in a 36-pitch first inning, Jason battled back to allow only one more hit over the next four innings, gutting out a 91-pitch, five inning performance with not a lot of velocity (topping at around 85 mph), but keeping the Reds off-balance after that shaky first. Schmidt struck out two and walked three, and left to a round of applause. Well done, Jason, and welcome back!

The Dodgers also helped Schmidt out, opening up the bottom of the first with a four-run inning to quickly take the lead back. Martin ended up going 3-for-3 in the two-hole and is batting around 100 points better in that slot. If Martin hadn't gotten caught stealing twice, it would have been a pretty good night all over for him. Manny Ramirez, Andre Ethier, and Casey Blake all had two RBI each, with James Loney adding a seventh. And Ramirez hit his tenth HR of the season (moving him into 15th place all-time, ahead of Mickey Mantle), and Ethier with his team-leading 19th homer.

The Dodgers have now won 10 in a row against the Reds at Dodger Stadium, and move to 25 games over .500 for the first time this season. With the Giants' loss and the Rockies' win, the Dodgers stay eight games ahead of second-place Colorado, with SF a half-game behind them for third place.

19 comments:

rbnlaw said...

The Gnats drop to third! It's a good day.

Orel said...

Third-place Giants.

Third-place Giants.

Just enjoying typing that.

NicJ said...

Lets hope Dlowe can help us out and beat up the giants like old times tomorrow.

JL said...

oh DLowe is going tomorrow, cool.

karina said...

This was a wonderful game with a result we never were expecting. Without a doubt, this is the best regular season of the team in the decade.

berkowit28 said...

Over a year? Well, OK, but don't you mean "first Schmidt win in over TWO years?" (Actually first Schmidt innings in over two years.)

NicJ said...

Schmidt talking about his velocity in the post game.

"If I really try to let one go i might hit Vin Scully in the Press Box."

Kyle Baker said...

Post-game interview with Schmidt was class. He talked about how the guys picking him up with 4 runs in the first really helped him. Team player, humble man...thanks for the W tonight, Jason!

Steve Sax said...

Oh yeah, and Manny moved into 15th on the all-time HR list, passing the Mick. Whoops, missed that one due to the early printing deadline.

Steve Sax said...

Oh wait, I can edit blogs real-time! Whoo hoo!

Added to post.

NicJ said...

Kuo gave up one hit and struck out two in a class A today. Joe Torre said he should be activated towards the end of the month.

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Reminds me of a post of mine from April. Glad that ROTLD is getting a second mention this season.

Josh S. said...

Great atmosphere at the Stadium tonight! (After the top of the first, that is. We were ready to riot.) Even the beach ball couldn't get me down.

I was bummed that they stopped playing the Star Wars music during the starting lineups. That was my favorite part.

Before they took the field there was also a weird montage of live shots of the players set to a booming drum beat. I think it was meant to stall since the pre-game festivities ended way before 7:10.

Josh S. said...

Oh, and what sounded like an old-school "Daaarryyyll" chant broke out in the right field loge during the top of the 8th for some inexplicable reason.

Eric the Ice King said...

Maybe someone mistook Eric Davis for Strawberry? Otherwise, I can't figure out the reason for a "Darryl!" chant...

Fred's Brim said...

and we have our first 3-game win streak in a month!

Steve Sax said...

Delino, thanks for the refresher! looks like ROTLD can be flexible enough to have multiple uses...

Fred's Brim said...

that zombie on the top left has a nice rack

Delino DeShields, Sr said...

Fred's Brim said...
that zombie on the top left has a nice rack

That was the working title