Game 117: Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants 6:5
Brad Penny suceeded in his quest to become the National League's first 13-game winner, winning his third straight game while allowing four runs (3 earned) and seven hits over six innings. Penny didn't walk a batter for the second straight outing. He struck out seven.
Rookie James Loney had a stellar game, tripling, doubling and scoring twice for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who have won 14 of 15. The last-place Giants are 6 1/2 games behind Los Angeles after falling a season-worst seven games under .500.
The Giants closed to 6-5 in the seventh with doubles by pinch-hitter Todd Linden and Omar Vizquel against Giovanni Carrera, but lefty Joe Beimel retired Steroid Boy on an inning-ending grounder with runners at the corners. The play was made by shortstop Rafael Furcal with the Dodgers playing a three-man shift on the right side of the infield.
Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect eighth inning and Takashi Saito worked the ninth for his 13th save in 14 attempts. Steven Finlet flied out to the warning track for the second straight time with a runner on base, and then Saito retired Vizquel on a groundout to first base to end it.
San Francisco has dropped 15 of 18 after a season-high five-game winning streak, and won just one of its last 12 on the road.
Ya gotta love it!
Betemit snapped a 4-4 tie in the fifth with his 13th home run and fourth since joining the Dodgers on July 28 in a trade with Atlanta. The drive into the right-field pavilion came on a 3-1 pitch -- Cain's last one of the game.
The Dodgers regained the lead when Loney led off with a double, advanced on Penny's sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Furcal, who is hitting .365 with runners in scoring position. But the Giants pulled even again in the fifth, thanks to some typical hustle by the 40-year-old Finley. Finley hit a two-out grounder to second baseman Julio Lugo, who bobbled the ball for an instant. That's all it took for Finley to beat the throw and stick Lugo with an error. He stole second and scored on a single by Vizquel that extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
The Dodgers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first on Lugo's RBI double into the left-field corner and J.D. Drew's run-scoring single. They made it 3-0 in the second when Loney tripled and scored on a popup by Penny that second baseman Durham lost in the sun.
Some thoughts:
1) Every team in the NL West has now spent at least 20 days in first place, and no fewer than 22 days in last place. I sure hope this trend doesn't continue. I hope the Giants keep on losing and the Dodgers keep on winning.
2) Dodgers rookie-of-the-year candidate Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single his first time up. When he reaches enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, he will be one of only three rookies to win the batting title. Assuming he holds on.
Rookie James Loney had a stellar game, tripling, doubling and scoring twice for the NL West-leading Dodgers, who have won 14 of 15. The last-place Giants are 6 1/2 games behind Los Angeles after falling a season-worst seven games under .500.
The Giants closed to 6-5 in the seventh with doubles by pinch-hitter Todd Linden and Omar Vizquel against Giovanni Carrera, but lefty Joe Beimel retired Steroid Boy on an inning-ending grounder with runners at the corners. The play was made by shortstop Rafael Furcal with the Dodgers playing a three-man shift on the right side of the infield.
Jonathan Broxton pitched a perfect eighth inning and Takashi Saito worked the ninth for his 13th save in 14 attempts. Steven Finlet flied out to the warning track for the second straight time with a runner on base, and then Saito retired Vizquel on a groundout to first base to end it.
San Francisco has dropped 15 of 18 after a season-high five-game winning streak, and won just one of its last 12 on the road.
Ya gotta love it!
Betemit snapped a 4-4 tie in the fifth with his 13th home run and fourth since joining the Dodgers on July 28 in a trade with Atlanta. The drive into the right-field pavilion came on a 3-1 pitch -- Cain's last one of the game.
The Dodgers regained the lead when Loney led off with a double, advanced on Penny's sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Furcal, who is hitting .365 with runners in scoring position. But the Giants pulled even again in the fifth, thanks to some typical hustle by the 40-year-old Finley. Finley hit a two-out grounder to second baseman Julio Lugo, who bobbled the ball for an instant. That's all it took for Finley to beat the throw and stick Lugo with an error. He stole second and scored on a single by Vizquel that extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
The Dodgers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first on Lugo's RBI double into the left-field corner and J.D. Drew's run-scoring single. They made it 3-0 in the second when Loney tripled and scored on a popup by Penny that second baseman Durham lost in the sun.
Some thoughts:
1) Every team in the NL West has now spent at least 20 days in first place, and no fewer than 22 days in last place. I sure hope this trend doesn't continue. I hope the Giants keep on losing and the Dodgers keep on winning.
2) Dodgers rookie-of-the-year candidate Andre Ethier extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a single his first time up. When he reaches enough plate appearances to qualify for the batting title, he will be one of only three rookies to win the batting title. Assuming he holds on.
posted by Blue Man | 4:47 PM
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