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Phillies Use Long Ball To Defeat Dodgers

One day after being done in by three Dodger home runs, the Phillies used the long ball to break open a close game, defeating the Dodgers 7-2, in the finale of their four-game series at Dodger Stadium.

To look at this another way, the Dodgers over the last two weekends have faced their two 2008 playoff opponents, and despite scoring only 2.5 runs per game, have split those eight games.  Despite the recent offensive struggles, manager Joe Torre isn't worried:

We'll be fine; we're going to score runs.  So many questions being asked about it I think everyone is self conscious about it and trying too hard.  We had an opportunity to score some runs, they made some pitches, and some plays and we could not mount an attack.  The last couple of days we have had a couple of hits back to back which is what we have not done for a while.  Hopefully we come back Tuesday with a breather tomorrow and start swinging the bats a little bit better.

Randy Wolf was throwing strikes all night, and through six innings he had thrown 88 pitches.  The Dodgers, trailing only 3-2, hoped to get one more inning out of Wolf before turning the game over to the bullpen.  However, a pair of home runs, one by Dodger killer Carlos Ruiz and one by playoff nemesis Shane Victorino, ended Wolf's night.  Wolf has given up 11 runs over 12.1 innings in his last two starts.  Wolf had not lost since his first start of the season, in San Diego.  He has pitched six innings or more in seven straight starts, and 11 of 13.

Alberto Bastardo got his second major league win in as many starts, as he allowed two runs over his five innings of work.  Even though he only threw a first-pitch strike to seven of 23 batters, Bastardo only walked one batter (Rafael Furcal in the 3rd inning), and the Dodgers were unable to take advantage.

Travis Schlichting made his major league debut out of the bullpen tonight, and Ryan Howard promptly greeted him with a booming opposite-field home run.  Torre noted it was a tough initiation to the big leagues, saying "Ryan Howard is certainly no slouch to face your first guy."  Schlichting ended up pitching 1.2 innings and, despite walking three batters, only allowed the one run on Howard's homer.

The Dodgers won the season series with the Phillies, 4-3, and the accomplishment was not lost on Torre:

[The Phillies] are pretty darn good.  We held our own with them.  We beat them on their field and we split here, I think that was important for us to beat them on their field and that was based on the fact that they swept us four games last year plus two in the playoffs.  If we do meet them in the postseason I think that is something that we do not have to concern ourselves with.

Oh well, at least the Lakers won!  And if that doesn't cheer you up, surely this photo of kids running the bases after the game will cheer you up:

Kids_run_the_bases_medium

The Dodgers have a rare home off day tomorrow, one of three over the next eight days, followed by a short two-game series with San Diego to close out the homestand.  Chad Billingsley and Tall Chris Young are the scheduled starters for Tuesday.

UPDATE (9:45pm):

I'm about to leave the press box after nearly nine hours at the stadium, yet I'm not tired of being here at all.  What better place could I possibly be sitting in?  Even almost empty, Dodger Stadium still looks as gorgeous as ever:

Dodger_stadium_empty_at_night_medium

**********

WP - Antonio Bastardo (2-0): 5 IP, 7 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

LP - Randy Wolf (3-2):  6.1 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

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Comments

Display:

I'm waiting for that story

About the rookies’ lodging plans.

by bhsportsguy on Jun 7, 2009 9:23 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

That will come this week, on one of the off days. I got some quotes from Hoffmann and Schlichting, as well as travel guru Scott Akasaki.

by Eric Stephen on Jun 7, 2009 9:37 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hope whoever covers Tuesday/Wednesday

gets some quotes about the players the Dodgers draft.

by bhsportsguy on Jun 7, 2009 11:07 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

We like his character and expect him to be in the bigs in no time. His law suit against the NCAA showed his tenacity.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Jun 7, 2009 11:41 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

a quote from a user on the phillies/dodgers yahoo sports recap

“From everything I hear, there are nothing but low life gang bangers assaulting, stabbing and shooting people outside Dodger Stadium”

Dodgers - 2008 NL West Champions
Cardinals - 2008 NFC Champions

by wongy on Jun 8, 2009 1:42 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

No one in Philadelphia

Has any right to complain about crime in L.A.

by David Young on Jun 8, 2009 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 55 Martin $5,050,000
1B 7 Loney $3,100,000
2B 33 DeWitt $410,000*
3B 23 Blake $6,000,000
SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
LF 99 Manny $7,267,760
CF 27 Kemp $4,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $6,000,000

2B/3B 14 Carroll $1,350,000
2B/3B/1B 3 Belliard $825,000
C 12 Ausmus $850,000
OF 5 Johnson $800,000
SS 60 Hu $405,000*

SP 22 Kershaw $425,000*
SP 58 Billingsley $3,850,000
SP 18 Kuroda $14,100,000
SP 44 Padilla $4,025,000
SP 50 Stults $405,000*

CL 51 Broxton $4,000,000
LHP 52 Sherrill $4,500,000
LHP 56 Kuo $950,000
RHP 67 Troncoso $425,000*
RHP 54 Belisario $425,000*
RHP 31 McDonald $425,000*
RHP 68 Monasterios $460,000*

Pierre $4,000,000
Andruw $3,600,000
Schmidt $2,000,000
Wolf $2,000,000
Hudson $1,440,000
Nomar $1,250,000
Ohman $200,000
Zerpa $35,000
Hoffmann ($50,000)

Others on 40-man roster (total: 39)
RHP 37 Haeger  
RHP 73 Link  
RHP 47 Wade
C 9 Ellis  
C 71 May  
SS 87 DeJesus  
OF 75 Paul
OF 17 Repko $500,000
RHP 64 Guerra**  
RHP 74 Jansen**  
LHP 59 Leach**
RHP 49 Schlichting**  
LHP 57 Elbert**  
OF 62 Robinson**  

Totals $93,522,760
 
Red = arbitration
Asterisk (*) = estimated
** = currently in minor league camp
For more detailed information, click here.

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