Dodgers Stun Diamondbacks, 6-5

by Eric Stephen on Jun 2, 2009 11:47 PM PDT in Game Recaps Comment 18 comments

James Loney watches his game-tying, bases-loaded double in the eighth inning.

The Dodgers play Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" in the middle of the eigth inning every game at Dodger Stadium. Tonight, trailing 5-1 entering their half of the eighth inning, the Dodgers took those words to heart, scoring five runs with two outs, to improbably win 6-5 over the DIamondbacks. Coupled with waiting until the ninth inning Monday to score, perhaps the Dodgers should change their song to "Save The Best For Last."

Dan Haren was great, allowing only one run in seven innings, even outhitting the Dodgers three to two when he left the contest. The one run Haren allowed was a mammoth home run by Andre Ethier in the second inning.

It's hard to say someone who gave up five runs in six innings had a good start, but tonight's effort by Randy Wolf might just qualify. Wolf struggled in the first, loading the bases with nobody out, yet escaped with only one run scoring. Wolf pressed his luck by again loading the bases in the second, but this time Justin Upton made sure he did not get out of the inning unscathed, launching a grand slam to left.

After two innings, the Dodgers trailed 5-1 and Wolf had already thrown 49 pitches. However, as he has done all year, Wolf got into a groove, pitching four scoreless innings using only 26 pitches. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter after pitching six innings, but with only 75 pitches thrown he probably could have thrown at least two more innings.

Once Haren left the game after seven innings, the Dodgers got to business. Here is their eighth inning rally, which started off Monday's near-victim Tony Pena:

Matt Kemp singled to center

Brad Ausmus popped out to shallow center

Mark Loretta struck out swining

Juan Pierre singled to right, Kemp to third

Rafael Furcal walked, Pierre to second

Orlando Hudson walked, Kemp scored, Pierre to third, Furcal to second

Daniel Schlereth relieved Pena

James Loney doubled to deep right center field (off the wall), Pierre, Furcal, and Hudson scored

Loney to third on a wild pitch

Casey Blake singled to center, Loney scored

Blake to second on a wild pitch

Andre Ethier popped out to center

5 runs, 4 hits

Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts for his 12th save.

This was the Dodgers largest comeback win of the season, and was only the second time they have won when trailing after eight innings.

On Tuesday, every team in the NL West lost...except the Dodgers.

WP - Jeff Weaver (3-1): 2 IP, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts

LP - Daniel Schlereth (0-1): 0.1 IP, 2 hits, 1 run (first major league decision)

Sv - Jonathan Broxton (12): 1 IP, 2 strikeouts

Tonight's Box Score

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Comments

Do they play "Don't Stop Believin" every night?

I thought they only played it when we were tied or losing. It doesn’t make much sense to do it otherwise.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 2, 2009 11:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Strike 1

by Eric Stephen on Jun 3, 2009 12:01 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey

I can’t hear the song on TV, they go to commercial. And we were losing in the 8th inning at all three games I went to at Dodger Stadium! ;-)

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 3, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I’m at home watching the game, I play the song on my iPod during the commercial break.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 3, 2009 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still doesn't mean I would know though.

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 3, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

For the record

your swing and a miss wasn’t for not knowing how often they played the song; it was for this:

It doesn’t make much sense to do it otherwise.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 3, 2009 12:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

But see

Then you are giving the other team confidence that they can come back, right?

by Brendan Scolari on Jun 3, 2009 12:41 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You should turn out all the lights for a few seconds, then start it up, Soprano style.

by Softballhead on Jun 3, 2009 1:23 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

For added authenticity...

You can hire Jamie-Lynn Sigler to parallel park a car in front of your house. She could start in the second inning, which would probably take her until the bottom of the eigth inning to finish parking.

2009 LA Kings Hockey: thanks to Joe Sakic's snowblower, WE'RE BETTER THAN THE AV'S!!!!

by DodgerBlueBalls on Jun 3, 2009 8:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs