After a quick two first inning by Kuroda, he found himself in the third with Michael Bourn on second and Carlos Lee at the plate who no doubtedly singled into right to score Bourn. The next batter, Geoff Blum connected with one into the right field bullpen to give the Astros an early three nothing lead. Kuroda settled down, but only went five innings after 92 pitches 7 hits and two walks given up.
It was the same as usual for the Dodgers relief staff, despite being used very regularly in the first half of the season, the continued to do their job as Guillermo Mota, Ramon Troncoso, and Jonathan Broxton pitched the last four innings in scoreless ball fashion.
The Dodgers, faced with a three run deficit, didn't waste anytime in the bottom of the third as Matt Kemp led the inning off with a walk, promptly stole second and scored with Brad Ausmus doubled to deep right. It was the same song and dance in the fifth when Ausmus came up following a Matt Kemp lead off single, and once again doubled him in, only this time to left field. The Dodgers squandered chances to score further in both innings when Ausmus was stranded on second after reaching there with no one out.
They didn't however waste their chances in the 7th. Kemp led off the inning again, and as if it was going out of fashion, singled again. Ausmus came up, but this time sacrifice bunted Kemp over to second. Blake DeWitt who had been a double switch earlier in the game came up and reached on an error by Houston Astros pitcher Alberto Arias. Rafael Furcal came up with runners now at the corners, the one at third being the tying run, and only one out. He hit a slow roller up the line that Arias fielded. Arias tried to make a quick throw home to cut down the speedy Kemp at the plate and thwart the tying run attempt. The ball slipped out of his hand and fell idly to the ground. The Dodgers, lumberjacks, had chipped away and now evened the score.
The bottom of the eighth appeared promising as Andre Ethier singled to lead it off for the Dodgers, but was quickly erased after James Loney grounded into a double play. That brought up Matt Kemp, already 2 for 2 with a walk and all three Dodger runs scored. The at-bat goes to show just the kind of player Matt Kemp is going to be. Is. Latroy Hawkins, the new pitcher for the 'Stros threw a first pitch ball to Kemp. After a next pitch strike, he followed with another one out of the strike zone to Kemp. The count stayed at two and two for four more pitches, as Kemp fouled three off and took the fourth for a ball. The next pitch Hawkins wishes he could have back, as Kemp drove it deep into the bleachers in left field.
Broxton quickly got ready and came in to finish out the ninth and retire the Astros in order. It was Broxton's 24th of the year, and Troncoso picked up the win for his fourth. Troncoso has the the Cory Wade for the Dodgers this year. His ERA is under a buck fifty and he's done a stellar job despite his workload.
So the Dodgers proved that they are quite possibly the same team they were before the break. Their starting pitcher doesn't do a bad job, but doesn't go deep into the game. Their relief comes in and shuts the door as usual. Broxton gets the save, and the Dodgers win on the shoulders of their young, and old but don't rely on any production from Manny Ramirez.
-Mr. Blue
No comments:
Post a Comment