Thursday, September 24, 2009

Post-Game 153 Thread: Dodgers Eke Out Series From Pesky Nats

DODGERS 7, NATIONALS 6

Dodger starter Vicente Padilla wasn't exactly on target tonight, yielding 4 ER over 5 IP along with 6 Ks and 103 pitches. But hey, it's the Nationals, losers of 100 games this year (five losses ahead of the next-worst team, the Pirates, our upcoming opponent for four games).

Big ups to Rafael Furcal for his second four-hit game of the series, Matt Kemp with a three-run home run in the first inning, and Andre Ethier with a game-saving outfield assist to nail the speedy Elijah Dukes at the plate (nice tag, Russell Martin). The Dodgers leave Washington with the league's best record, the Giants eliminated from divisional title contention (thanks to their 3-2 loss to the Cubs tonight), and luckily no increase in taxes. On to Pittsburgh for four games!

14 comments:

JuanLove said...

i said we clinched in the GT, well since ATL is in 2nd, we have to wait til tomorrow to potentially clinch

this may have been discussed in the GT, so if it was, my bad


back to this. Rafffy is crazy hot right now. i hope he's back

Kyle Baker said...

Don't worry about it, JL - it's close enough for government work.

Steve Sax said...

@JL: yeah, this magic number thing has me a bit stymied too. The best I can tell, our win helps but Atl was idle, so we still have at least one more day to see if we make the playoffs. But we will.

Nostradamus said...

@JL,Sax

Use the riot numbers site, it helps. It only upates in the morning though.

Bayareadfan said...

I remember Expose, they did a gig at the high school graduation night at Disneyland back in my day...

...that, and Matt Kemp is a very good baseball player.

ubragg said...

I think we should call this a sorta-cycle for Matt Kemp...

Alex Cora said...

Was that Dukes or Harris that was nailed at the plate. I only saw some of the highlights on the iphone and the National announcer was screaming COME ON HARRIS!!

Fred's Brim said...

@ AC - ugh I had to listen to those clowns. Bob Carpenter is a homer, but a professional homer. The real problem is Rob Dibble as the color man. He was openly cheering throughout the game. He even yelled "get out!" on that long sac fly in the 2nd. Do you think he realizes he's cheering for the Nationals?

Paul said...

FB

someone has to cheer for the Nats. They might as well get paid for it.

koufax said...

@ Alex Cora

It was Harris out at the plate.

koufax said...

@ FB

Ya, I could not stand Rob Dibble either. I understand that he was trying to make the game more relevant than it was, but someone needs to tell him that his job is not to act like a drunk fan sitting in the stands, but to actually provide meaningful incite on the baseball goings on. Do not route for your last place team during the broadcast, get some class.

Steve Sax said...

@AC: You are absolutely right, the iPhone highlight of Willie Harris getting nailed at the plate in the eighth is a pathetic and sad announcing job. You can watch it here.

"Base Hit!"

"Come on, Willie!"

"Ethier's throw...(sad) they're gonna get him."

MR.F said...

I had a dream of a dead bug thanks to this picture.

rbnlaw said...

We finally win a series in DC. Can't tell you how relieved I was to see the FBR and Brox close it out.

Our rotation may be much maligned, but I don't hear the pundits chirping about our bullpen. As a matter of fact, I wish they would. The best way to defeat your enemy is to catch them on their heels. If the Cards and Phills believe the Dodger pitching staff is weak, all the better for the Blue.

Hear that, Buster Olney? We suck.
Suck, I tell ye.