Game 55: Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies 6:8

In front of a sellout crowd of 55,142 blue bleeding Dodger fans, Eric Gagne made his first appearance in nearly a year. He pitched a hitless inning, with one walk and one hit batsmen. Unfortunately, it wasn't a save situation, and the Phillies snapped the Dodgers seven game win streak at Chavez Ravine.

"It was exciting. It was fun. The fans were pumped and I was
pumped," Gagne said. My legs were shaking. I was
nervous and anxious, but the fans got me going again.
It was good to get the first one out of the way.

It would have been nice to have a save, but I'll take an

inning of work here and go from there."

Other than his curveball, Gagne looked sharp.

There wasn't much to be joyous other than Gagne's return in this loss. Jae Seo, although seemingly improved, still seems to have some control issues. He gave up two solo shots in the four innings he pitched. Danys Baez blew yet another game.

Although Joel Guzman got his first major league hit, he also hit into the game ending double play, with two runners on. He may be young, but it just illustrates that he wasn't ready for the call up and that Andy LaRoche should have been recalled instead.

Matt Kemp continues to do well, hitting another home run, which, at the time, tied the game at three. Nomar Garciaparra continues in his "Comeback Player of the Year" season to earn his paycheck, going two-for-four with an RBI, which initially took the lead, 4-3.

In the eighth, Olemedo Saenz and Sandy Alomar, Jr. hit back-to-back doubles, ending a string of twenty-and-two-thirds scoreless innings by the Phillies bullpen.

Speaking of streaks coming to an end, we had one of ourselves. Kenny Lofton was thrown out in the fourth, while attempting to steal second. Lofton had been successful in his previous 19 attempts, which was the longest in the majors.

Some random thoughts:

1) It seems as if with a couple starters struggling, it may be time to make yet another Las Vegas call up. Who should be called up and who should be sent down?

2) Now with Gagne back, and Jonathan Broxton, Takashi Saito, and Joe Beimel doing so successful, it seems as if we have an abundance of middle relief pitchers. At this point, who is more expendable, Odalis Perez, Brett Tomko or Danys Baez?

3) Did the presense of Jose Cruz, Jr. in the starting line up have a hidden meaning? With much better alternatives, could this be a sign we are trying to move him?

4) Why does Guzman continue to play 3B? We just had him change to the OF, which with the emergence of Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp he may be more valueable to us in the IF. But, this just further illustrates why he should still be in Las Vegas. It isn't fair to him to have him make the change (again) in the pros.

5) I am glad to see Willy Aybar at second base, his natural position, now that Jeff Kent is on the disabled list.