Luis Rodriguez, OPS Machine
by Brendan Scolari on Apr 9, 2009 4:52 PM PDT
in Dodgers Game Recaps
Email
PrintThere are some frustrating but ultimately good losses like the game last year against the Brewers where Gabe Kaplar dove three rows into the seats to rob a home run. This was not one of those games. Today the Dodgers lost 4-3 in a game they could have easily won.
Clayton Kershaw had great stuff (hitting 97 on the radar gun a few times) but was wild, throwing at least 20 pitches in each of the first three innings. He couldn't keep his pitch count down so he had to leave after only five innings with the score tied 1-1 because of a bases-loaded walk by Andre Ethier. Ethier had a perfect day going 2-2 with 2 walks.
In the sixth inning Matt Kemp hit a shot to third that bounced off of Edgar Gonzalez and gave the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. In the bottom half of the inning Ronald Belisario came in and pitched very impressively, throwing two scoreless innings while notching four strikeouts with only one walk. He threw mostly all sinking fastballs but the Padre hitters seemed unable to connect with the pitch. The Dodgers loaded the bases in the 7th and had two men on in the 8th but were unable to add to their lead. Little did they know how costly this would be.
In the eigth inning, Will Ohman gave up a home run to Adrian Gonzalez before being lifted for Cory Wade with the Dodgers leading 3-2. Wade gave up a triple and a single with two outs to tie the game up at 3-3. Then Luis Rodgriguex capped off a perfect day (1-1 with 3 walks) by hitting a double into right center field to give the Padres the lead 4-3. Rodriguez is a light hitting shortstop with a career 77 OPS+, which only increases the pain.
In the 9th inning the Dodgers got another chance after Orlando Hudson hit a leadoff triple. But Heath Bell got Manny to ground out and then after walking Andre Ethier, Russell Martin grounded into a game-ending double play, ending a painful series for Russ.
The Dodgers made plenty of huge execution mistakes in this game, among them walking Luis Rodriguez three times and being unable to drive in Hudson in the 9th when all they needed was a fly ball. It all adds up to a bitter loss, but one that will hopefully be quickly forgotten because tomorrow an important series against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field begins. The starting pitchers tomorrow will be James McDonald and Jon Garland.
6 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Two down, niney-eight to go.
I’m sure if we added up the box scores of the series we would see that the Padres were lucky to come away with two. That and the fact that there’s something in the water down there that doesn’t like the Dodgers went against us.
The fact that Kershaw pitched decent is actually a bigger plus than the loss is a minus, but I think this game illustrates why we should see we will only get limited innings from him over the year. Plus despite his success, Manny’s bat has still yet to come alive and Martin looks like he’s trying to hit the ball to Pluto. Once the machine starts firing on all cylinders, should be pretty great season, with a few innings of our mediocre ptichers getting bombed in between.
Frustrating but no big deal in the long run.
These kinds of games just drive me nuts. The Dodgers should have won this one easy, but I’m willing to bet that by July we won’t even remember it. But still, leadoff triple…guh.
Inevitable
The BP had not given up a run in 11 innings, so it (they) were due to give up something or other. Wade looked bad, but some of it had to do with the huge Gonzalez HR to the opposite field—-it certainly pumped up the Padres. Got to give them some kind of props, although reluctantly. I think we’ll be ok, but I do think our BP is suspect. Would like to see Lindblom in the BP, learning his craft and being exposed to the majors, just like Billingsley. That kid is going to be one tough customer. Belly is a nice surpise. Like his toughness, too.
"It's a cookbook!"---The Twilight Zone
Wade did give up 4 line drives though.
Its hard to do much worse. It would have been nice if Torre had used Troncoso for once. Or if he had gone to Broxton for a four out save.
As for the bullpen long-term, I think it’ll be fine. Broxton and Kuo are both great as long as their healthy. Belisario looks like a find and Troncoso could be good if he gets some chances.
by Brendan Scolari on Apr 10, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Who needs Carlos Santana
When we have catcher Tony Delmonico beating the piss out of the ball? Two jacks tonight for Great Lakes.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on True Blue LA
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
