At-Game Recap: Dodgers 6 Rockies 0 (August 17, 2010)

“Dreams feel real while we’re in them. Its only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.”

I don’t really remember how I got there, but I do remember walking to the gate. After showing my ticket, there were people handing out what some people called bobbleheads, but what I call a totem. It is an elegant solution for keeping track of reality. My totem had a vague resemblance to Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp and if the large head on the spring stopped moving, then I knew that it was reality. I arrived at my seat and opened my bobblehead just to test it out. Seems that everyone had one around me, but mine was slightly different as it had a scratch on the front of the uniform and that is what made it my personal totem. I did move the head to make sure that it did bobble and sure enough, the head kept moving. Bobble … bobble …

I was then distracted by the game. It seemed that the Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw kept allowing men on base, but then would somehow get out of the situation with the third out. Meanwhile the Colorado pitcher had a no hitter through three innings. Ah, I said to myself, this is reality as the Dodgers are up to their old ways of an ineffective offense and barely making it through the inning on defense. It was just a matter of time. Bobble … bobble …

However, during the fourth inning, things started to change. Kershaw had his first 1-2-3 inning and we broke up the no hitter the bottom of the inning. Then something completely novel happened in the fifth inning. The dodgers scored. That’s right scored runs, and more than one! They actually batted around! All nine position players can up to bat – IN ONE INNING! I couldn’t believe my eyes. A.J. Ellis, the man of a .174 average, had a hit! Scott Podsednik doubles and we are up by 2 runs. James Loney doubles and we are up by 4 runs. Casey Blake singles and we are up by 5 runs! Please, oh please don’t wake me up. Bobble … bobble …

A 1-2-3 inning in the 6th, Kershaw out of a jam in the 7th, and the Dodgers are leading going into the 8th inning. Unbelievable! I am just waiting for the kick (or kicker) to wake up. Then Kenley Jansen comes in to relieve Kershaw and the Rockies quickly get two men on base. Here we go – here is the Dodger bullpen meltdown we are all used to seeing. And what is this? George Sherrill comes in to relieve Jansen. Is this where reality sets in? But wait, a strike out, a fly out, a ground out, and the Dodgers get out of the inning – with the shutout intact. The Dodgers then score an insurance run (according to Diamond Vision brought to you by State Farm) because a six run lead with the Dodgers is NEVER SAFE, and we head to the ninth inning. Ninth inning means Broxton, and the way he has been pitching lately, I guess these days, a six run lead IS a save situation. Bobble … bobble …

The music plays and the big ox comes in to close the game out. His first pitch is a strike down the middle. I say to myself, this could be good. We could win. Then he gets his man to ground out. One out. The next batter, Broxton strikes out swinging. Two outs. I say to myself, wait, we are one out away from winning a game? A game in which we scored multiple runs – in one inning no less. A game in which Sherrill got people out. A game in which A.J. Ellis got a hit. A game in which we could shut out the opponent instead of ourselves getting shut out. The crowd rises to their feet and Broxton gets the next guy to ground out. Dodgers win. Game over. The music blares – I Love L.A. Was this the music that I hear to prepare me to wake up? Do I dare wake up from this wonderful dream with the Dodgers winning? Do I dare look down at my bobblehead to see if that large head is still moving? I can’t help it. I reluctantly peek down and see…

Bobble … bobble … [black]