Game 74: Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh 7:0
Gosh, it sure is nice when Pittsburgh comes to town. Aaron Sele continued to show why the Pittsburgh Pirates seem more like a Triple-A affiliate than a bonafide major league club with his dominance of their lineup. Sele allowed only one runner to go past first base, in a stellar performance that continues to defy many. He went six strong innings en route to his first victory in five chances. In his two previous starts, Sele was unable to get past the fourth inning.
"The difference was location and really just getting the ball down," Sele said. "I was able to keep the ball around the kneecaps and get some ground balls when I needed to. I need to command all of my pitches. I'm not a velocity guy, I'm a location guy. So I've got to keep the ball down. And when I do, it gives me a chance."
Jonathan Broxton relieved Sele in the seventh, striking out the side on just fourteen pitches. Joe Beimel, against his old team, threw a scoreless eighth and Takashi Saito finished the game with a perfect ninth, lowering his ERS to 1.77.
Saito looked sharp while striking out a batter and inducing two ground ball outs. Saito has taken over for once again injured Eric Gagne and has not allowed a run in his last thirteen and two-thirds innings.
After being outdone by the veterans the night before, the rookies decided they wanted to take the spotlight back. Andre Ethier had a career-high four RBIs, while going two-for-four. Russ
Martin and Matt Kemp both went two-for-four as well, with Martin knocking in a run.
"It's a pretty special group of young kids that we've got -- good quality people with good quality talent and really willing to learn," Sele said. "And there's enough veterans around to teach them the right way to do things."
Jeff Kent went two-for-four, increasing his average to .274 on the year. Kent homered for the second straight game. Nomar Garciaparra also went two-for-four, increasing his National League leading average to .361 on the year.
Some random observations:
1.) It was nice to see Cesar Izturis back at his old stomping grounds-- shortstop at Chavez Ravine. It was also great to see him turn those two double plays. Could Grady Little finally be thingink of putting Izturis back where he belongs? If so, what do we do with Rafael Furcal? How well would he play third base? What about first base, moving Garciaparra to third? The only one I would be adamantly against, is moving Garciaparra.
2.) A good friend of mine has been at the last couple of games and noticed Eric Gagne merchandise seems a bit low. Any ideas as to why? Could this be a sign that he is on his way out? If one recalls, before the blockbuster trade that sent beloved Paul Lo Duca away and the trade that sent Shawn Green away, their pictures were taken off of www.dodgers.com. Although not to that point, it seems this is headed in that direction.
3.) Is it just me, or wasn't it great to see a President not named Bush throw at the first pitch of a baseball game? It was even more fitting that it was Leonel Fernandez, preisdent of the Dominican Republic.
"The difference was location and really just getting the ball down," Sele said. "I was able to keep the ball around the kneecaps and get some ground balls when I needed to. I need to command all of my pitches. I'm not a velocity guy, I'm a location guy. So I've got to keep the ball down. And when I do, it gives me a chance."
Jonathan Broxton relieved Sele in the seventh, striking out the side on just fourteen pitches. Joe Beimel, against his old team, threw a scoreless eighth and Takashi Saito finished the game with a perfect ninth, lowering his ERS to 1.77.
Saito looked sharp while striking out a batter and inducing two ground ball outs. Saito has taken over for once again injured Eric Gagne and has not allowed a run in his last thirteen and two-thirds innings.
After being outdone by the veterans the night before, the rookies decided they wanted to take the spotlight back. Andre Ethier had a career-high four RBIs, while going two-for-four. Russ
Martin and Matt Kemp both went two-for-four as well, with Martin knocking in a run.
"It's a pretty special group of young kids that we've got -- good quality people with good quality talent and really willing to learn," Sele said. "And there's enough veterans around to teach them the right way to do things."
Jeff Kent went two-for-four, increasing his average to .274 on the year. Kent homered for the second straight game. Nomar Garciaparra also went two-for-four, increasing his National League leading average to .361 on the year.
Some random observations:
1.) It was nice to see Cesar Izturis back at his old stomping grounds-- shortstop at Chavez Ravine. It was also great to see him turn those two double plays. Could Grady Little finally be thingink of putting Izturis back where he belongs? If so, what do we do with Rafael Furcal? How well would he play third base? What about first base, moving Garciaparra to third? The only one I would be adamantly against, is moving Garciaparra.
2.) A good friend of mine has been at the last couple of games and noticed Eric Gagne merchandise seems a bit low. Any ideas as to why? Could this be a sign that he is on his way out? If one recalls, before the blockbuster trade that sent beloved Paul Lo Duca away and the trade that sent Shawn Green away, their pictures were taken off of www.dodgers.com. Although not to that point, it seems this is headed in that direction.
3.) Is it just me, or wasn't it great to see a President not named Bush throw at the first pitch of a baseball game? It was even more fitting that it was Leonel Fernandez, preisdent of the Dominican Republic.
posted by Blue Man | 12:13 PM
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