Dodgers Win Opener, Beat Cardinals 5-3
by Eric Stephen on Oct 7, 2009 11:00 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
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Print| NLDS: Cardinals vs. Dodgers | |||
| Dodgers Lead Series 1-0 | |||
| Game 1 | Dodgers 5, Cardinals 3 | ||
| Game 2 | Thu | Dodger Stadium | 3:07pm |
| Game 3 | Sat | Busch Stadium | 3:07pm |
| Game 4* | Sun | Busch Stadium | TBD |
| Game 5* |
Oct 13 |
Dodger Stadium | TBD |
| *if necessary | All times Pacific | ||
| All games televised on TBS | |||
The Dodgers' starting pitcher couldn't get out of the fourth inning, and their offense had a woeful two hits in 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Yet, none of that mattered, as the Dodgers plodded their way to a 5-3 victory in Game One of the National League Division Series, the longest game in NLDS history at three hours, 54 minutes.
Randy Wolf, making his first career playoff start, was shaky and wild all night. He loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning, but managed to escape allowing only one run. Leaving men on base was a pattern for both teams, as the Dodgers (16) and Cardinals (14) combined to leave a division series record 30 men on base.
Wolf allowed 12 baserunners while only getting 11 outs. Thankfully for the Dodgers, Chris Carpenter also wasn't sharp, and they were able to capitalize. A Matt Kemp home run in the first inning gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead that they would never relinquish. The Dodgers pecked away the rest of the game, tacking on single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings. Carpenter allowed 14 baserunners while getting his 15 outs.
Jeff Weaver relieved Wolf in the fourth, getting out of yet another bases loaded jam, and ended up earning the win for his four-out effort. Weaver has won each of the last two playoff games in which he has pitched, one for the Cardinals and one against. He won the clinching game five of the 2006 World Series before tonight.
All in all the Dodger bullpen allowed just five hits and a run, striking out five while walking none over their 5.1 innings of work. Jonathan Broxton got the final four outs for the save.
James Loney had two hits, and has had at least one hit in all nine postseason games he has started in his career. He had one of the two hits with runners in scoring position, but his single to left didn't score Andre Ethier, who was rightfully held at third base by Larry Bowa. Lifetime in the postseason, Loney is hitting .395/.465/.553.
The Dodgers got 22 men on base tonight, via 12 hits, eight walks, and two times being hit by a pitch. This was the third highest total men on base in Dodger postseason history:
| Game | Opponent | Hits | BB | HBP | TOB |
| 1956 WS, Gm 2 | Yankees | 12 | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| 1974 NLCS, Gm 4 | Pirates | 12 | 11 | 0 | 23 |
| 2009 NLDS, Gm 1 | Cardinals | 12 | 8 | 2 | 22 |
The Dodgers take a 1-0 series lead into tomorrow's game, with their best pitcher on the mound. Clayton Kershaw versus Adam Wainwright figures to be a stellar playoff match-up. Remember, tomorrow's game starts at 3:07pm, ensuring a sharp decline in Southern California workforce productivity.
Oh, by the way: the Kevin Baxter reverse jinx is alive and well.
WP - Jeff Weaver (1-0): 1.1 IP, 1 hit, 1 strikeout
LP - Chris Carpenter (0-1): 5 IP, 9 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts
Sv - Jonathan Broxton (1): 1.1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run, 2 strikeouts
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yessssssssssssssssssssssss
1 down 2 to go…
tomorrow doesnt get easier
but we can pull it off….
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
thnak you kevin baxter
Because when I think of Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of Romanticism....
We'll probably have it on at work on the TV behind me.
But if i spend all day watching, I’ll be accosted. So trying to time my glances will be interesting
Mitch Williams
I normally like him, but he just said this:
“In order for the Dodgers to stay in this division series and win it, they have to have contributions from at least two of their starting pitchers.”
Stay in??? Did we lose tonight?
i was at the game
and i was all excited to come home and watch highlights and hear the naysayers saying “oh, well maybe we were wrong.” and then i hear the above. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? puke.
He's a moron
He also said the only reason the Dodgers have the best team ERA in baseball is cause of the bullpen yet the Dodgers starters have the second best ERA in all of baseball I believe.
funny you should bring this up, Eric
I was writing a post about Mitch Williams below when I saw you print this out. It’s probably some face saving- here’s what he said this afternoon on Mad Dog’s show on satellite radio/ These are all direct quotes:
“I think St. Louis runs away with this series.”
“If they shut Manny down and keep him in a slumber where he’s been, I don’t think it’ll even be close, because I don’t think they matchup.”
On Kershaw: "This kid’s stuff is not as big as it was…his velocity’s down…good breaking ball…I’m kind of a show me guy. (ie. Kershaw will have to prove himself)
I love all the hatin' on the Dodgers from the media
It makes the winning that much sweeter. I said aloud to myself after the game, “did I mention we were good?”
Williams is a moron
Put Akins in the booth.
On TBS Eckersly went from saying we couldn’t win to saying the Cardinals have offensive problems that have been masked by Pujols.
Added a note above
about the 22 baserunners by the Dodgers tonight. 3rd highest total ever by the Dodgers in a playoff game.
MLB dudes
have a serious bromance thing going on for the Yankees. What is this crap?
YES!
Fuck Furcal was money tonight.
Starting pitching pfewwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!! There’s about 20 other guys on the team and I swear to God La Rusa used them all (if I’m going to loose to LA, I’m at least going to exact my revenge make them sleepy tomorow). If the guy doesn’t walk a lot of batters, get a lot of base runners on, awesome!
“Bases Loaded” Weaver out of the pen and I will never doubt the bases loaded power of the Weaver again. Great game, played to our strengths, did ESPN catch it? The bats went crazy. Bring those bats back tomorow!
The pen was money as we all thought it would.
Another battle tomorrow. Look out for the K-Shaw.
I'm kinda late to the party but Johnny D says...
2009-10 LA Kings Hockey: Where Smyt Happens!!
by DodgerBlueBalls on Oct 8, 2009 12:00 AM PDT reply actions
Can I give this a thumbs down?
I freaking hate that dumb show and all the retarded, dumb characters on it – all of whom probably love the Yanks, Mets or Sawks.
but,
GO DODGERS!
by Seanny Rotten on Oct 9, 2009 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
what a game!!!
Just got back…that’ll be the last game I get to at Dodger Stadium until a possible Game 6 NLCS. Some notes:
+Crowd was awesome. Hardly any waves or beachballs- people just screaming at the top of their lungs! A touch of apathy set in during the 7th/8th inning, but that 9th inning got everyone right back into it.
+A couple of retroactive comments, had I been on TBLA tonight:
(after the run-scoring blooper dropped in during the 1st inning): “Hudson would have had that! I KNEW he should have been playing in this game”
(next play, after Belliard helps turn the double play): “Never mind! :))”
+No matter what happens for the rest of the series, most of the pundits have already been proven wrong, given how easily we were supposed to bow before Carpenter. (Buck Showalter and, surprisingly, Joe Morgan have been two rare exceptions that are willing to show the Dodgers some recognition.)
+Immediately after the Manny double play, the big screen showed an anti-steroid video. Maybe the timing was a coincidence, but I was shocked. I guess the Dodger’s are gonna get their money’s worth from the guy, one way or another!
+Finally, don’t believe the hype about the Dodgers leaving runners in scoring position- once again, there were a few hard line drives that went right at people. Still, I’ll take that trade for Ludwick’s bases clearing double that went foul by a foot! I think Weaver plans these things out. LOL
Great win tonight, and here’s to hoping we have another one tomorrow!!!
And the runners kept moving on a lot of those outs.
It was like small ball with swinging the bat hard.
I hate baseball writers
Tim Brown on Yahoo sports said the following:
“Dodgers can’t beat Carpenter or Wainwright.”
Well i guess he is wrong.
What a douche.
Things that piss me off.
Look at this bullshit:
Notice anything?
They have a photo of Carpenter firing a pitch and a photo of Manny on his ass with his helmet in his face. WTF?!
Those “analysts” are ridiculous. Why does everything have to be about Manny? Didn’t they see how well this team played when Manny was suspended?
You wanna know how great baseball is? The greatest basketball player ever left his sport to play baseball.
wow what a win, a truly bizarre yet amazing game
looks like the playoffs have brought every blogger to their computer, nice game thread hah
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
Hindsite
he had no idea that Ryan was going to misplay the throw from LF. And the 2nd time no way would I have sent Andre on Loney’s single to left field.
Dre is safe without the misplay. He's also safe on Loney's single.
by Seanny Rotten on Oct 8, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions
I think you overestimate Andre's speed
but I would have sent him on the first hit but not on Loney’s. Play was in front of the left fielder easy throw even for an arm like Holliday.
It wasn't too shallow, it was just too hard and went right to the left fielder
Better baserunning and some speed would have got the job done though.
He still would have been safe!
Look, I was there, and he was already around third by the time the ball was barely out of the fielder’s hand. As he stopped the pitcher cut it off – the trajectory the throw was at the catcher would have had to field it up the 1st base line and then dive back to try and tag ’Dre. OR, the pitcher cuts it off, wheels and has to throw a low strike to the catcher to beat ’Dre.
Bowa cost us 2 runs.
by Seanny Rotten on Oct 8, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
We won.
I should let it go. I will let it go. We’re up 2-0 now, baby!!!
by Seanny Rotten on Oct 9, 2009 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions
'Dre didn't have the jump he needed to score on Loney's hit.
It would have been close.
I was thinking Bowa definitely watched that Twins Detroit game with so many guys getting nailed at the plate.
For all the dumping on Belliard for misplaying the shallow fly ball
his play on the double play more then made up for it. We all know that Hudson has two strengths, going out and catching any possible popup and going to his left. We also know that Hudson has a weakness for balls hit to his right and that Belliard goes to his right better then Hudson. If Belliard doesn’t make a sweet play on the shot up the middle who knows how the first inning turns out.
I felt if Kemp had a better jump the fly ball should have been moot but Belliard was still in position to catch the fly ball. His bad but for a guy who was the best hitter on the team for the last 30 days he seemed to get a little to much grief for his two strikeouts in his first two at bats. That man has had exactly one at bat in the last 10 days. By the end of the evening he ended up getting on base three times and again was a big part of the Dodger offense.
I’m also thinking that Hudson is on the bench because of how slow our bench is. With Thome, Ausmus, and Loretta, we only have one decent player with speed in Pierre. Belliard with the groin problem is not someone you’d want to pinch run either. Hudson on the bench gives us a switch hitter, who can also pinch run in case Thome was to actually find his way on base.
Hollywood Joe and I had that same discussion
At the game about Belliard’s plays in the first inning.
I disagree about the DP
Hudson would have ate that up, Belliard looked tentative, but he stayed with it and made it. He played well after that, but still a bit tentative.
I liked how Joe didn’t panic though and then switch Hudson in for Belliard after the damage was done and waited for it to even out.
That being said, I would probably start O dog tonight for the defense since the Dodger offense is firing and O dog can contribute to that offense like Belliard, although Bellie is definitely a bat we want to get out there when he is hot.
That was an awesome game
The pundits touted Carpenter/Wainwright and we countered with our bullpen bullpen bullpen so it was very satisfying to see our bullpen do the job.
And again
Sometimes a game like last night is all about which manager decides to pull his starter out first.
In fairness to LaRussa
a struggling Carpenter is probably better then his middle relief options, while our bullpen has been our strength all year. We don’t normally need to bail out Wolf but they have done the job all year.
JEFF FUCKING WEAVER
and his ability to limit damage when the bases are loaded is one of the big stories of this season. How bloody big was getting Ludwick in that situation? I guess you’d have to check out the win expectancy before his at bat compared to after his ab. Where is Brendan when you need him?
I mentioned to Joe
And it was mentioned later.
Last Cardinal to record a win in the post season, Jeff Weaver.
Last pitcher to record a win against the Cardinals, Jeff Weaver.
According to Fangraphs WPA, that was the fifth biggest play of the game
1) Kemp Homer – .181 WPA
2) Molina DP – .129
3) Schumaker 4th inning double – .118
4) Ryan’s 1st inning double – .109
5) Ludwick groundout – .096
That play increased our win expectancy from 60% to almost 70%.
I remember a fanpost addressing claims that Kemp's homers were in "meaningless" situations
I’d say the homer yesterday was pretty meaningful.
I was already proven wrong big time however on one of my comments
in that I said if Weaver or Garland ever had to pitch it was a game we’d be losing anyway since that meant our starter didn’t do the job.
Unbelievably
I keep hearing chatter around the office around these lines.
“Did you watch the game last night?”
“Ya, they won.”
“They looked good.”
Just as I get excited that I have people to talk to about the Dodgers the next comment is along the lines of:
“Artest looked good. He’ll be fine.”
And then I realize that I am alone.
Except I have you folks.
great win
the fact the dodgers could have even scored more was amazing..
we gotta cash in more of those runners though on base as the cardinals are gonna come back strong today
belliard is still the better choice even witht that miscue..it might come down to needing a single to win the game and id want ronnie there instead of hudson well c
again the media is underestimating kershaw and focusing on wainright..better for us anyways
is it just me or does it seem thome cant hit a fastball?…not sure if hes useful at all thoughts?
I think of myself as an intelligent, sensitive human being with the soul of a clown which always forces me to blow it at the most important moments
-"val kilmer-Jim morrison-doors movie"
by SPADE-IN-VICTORHELL on Oct 8, 2009 8:57 AM PDT reply actions
The nation does not understand
how good Kershaw is at Dodger Stadium. He will begin to extend that knowledge today in the shadows when he mows through the Cardinal lineup.
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